Virginia Apgar was an American physician, obstetrical anesthesiologist, and medical researcher who invented The Apgar score.  The Apgar score is a way to quickly assess the health of a newborn and was created as a way to combat infant mortality.  The test is given to all babies at one minute and five minutes after birth to measure heart rate, respiration, color, muscle tone, and reflex irritability.  Each of these is given a score of 0, 1, or 2 (2 is optimal condition and 0 is distress) and then are compiled together for the final score between 0 and 10, 10 being the best possible condition.  The test can be retaken every five minutes if the baby is not progressing and remains in distress or poor condition.

The New York World Telegram and Sun once wrote that, “Her name is a lifeline for newborns,” and Surgeon General Julius Richmond said she had, “done more to improve the health of mothers, babies, and unborn infants than anyone else in the 20th century.” 

Other accomplishments:

• First woman to lead a specialty division at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
• First woman to be named full professor at Columbia University
• Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame