Bernard Fantus
Encyclopedia
Bernard Fantus was a Hungarian American
physician. He established the first hospital blood bank
in the United States
in 1937 at Cook County Hospital, Chicago while he served there as director of the pharmacology
and therapeutics department.
Fantus was born in Budapest
, Hungary (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire ). He gained his MD degree in 1899 from the University of Illinois. From 1934, he was the director of therapeutics at Cook County Hospital. The science and practice of blood transfusion
s was developing internationally at the time. Small-scale refrigerated storage of whole blood had been used first in World War I (see Oswald Hope Robertson
) and this had been developed in Russia into a larger-scale system of blood depots. In the US, hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic
certainly used refrigerated storage of blood from 1935. Fantus conducted further experiments
in blood storage, culminating in the preservation of blood for up to ten days, and he prepared to establish a “Blood Preservation Laboratory” at the hospital. Crucially, however, he changed its name before launch to “Cook County Hospital Blood Bank”. It opened in March 1937.
Fantus invented the name “blood bank” and put this name into circulation, partly through a landmark article. in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July 1937. It was rapidly adopted by other hospitals.
In May 1933, Fantus joined with others to establish the Humanist movement with the publication of the first Humanist Manifesto.
Hungarian American
Hungarian Americans Hungarian are American citizens of Hungarian descent. The constant influx of Hungarian immigrants was marked by several waves of sharp increase.-History:...
physician. He established the first hospital blood bank
Blood bank
A blood bank is a cache or bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a result of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusion. The term "blood bank" typically refers to a division of a hospital laboratory where the storage of blood product occurs and where proper...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1937 at Cook County Hospital, Chicago while he served there as director of the pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
and therapeutics department.
Fantus was born in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire ). He gained his MD degree in 1899 from the University of Illinois. From 1934, he was the director of therapeutics at Cook County Hospital. The science and practice of blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
s was developing internationally at the time. Small-scale refrigerated storage of whole blood had been used first in World War I (see Oswald Hope Robertson
Oswald Hope Robertson
Oswald Hope Robertson was an English-born medical scientist who pioneered the idea of blood banks in the "blood depots" he established in 1917 during service in France with the US Army Medical Corps.- Life :...
) and this had been developed in Russia into a larger-scale system of blood depots. In the US, hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
certainly used refrigerated storage of blood from 1935. Fantus conducted further experiments
in blood storage, culminating in the preservation of blood for up to ten days, and he prepared to establish a “Blood Preservation Laboratory” at the hospital. Crucially, however, he changed its name before launch to “Cook County Hospital Blood Bank”. It opened in March 1937.
Fantus invented the name “blood bank” and put this name into circulation, partly through a landmark article. in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July 1937. It was rapidly adopted by other hospitals.
In May 1933, Fantus joined with others to establish the Humanist movement with the publication of the first Humanist Manifesto.
Commemoration
- His grave is in Forest Park cemetery, Illinois.
- Fantus Health Center, Cook County
- Bernard Fantus Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) to an individual who has made numerous outstanding contributions to the scientific basis and/or clinical practice of blood banking and transfusion medicine during the preceding fifty years. It is a distinguished award that is only made at intervals of five years or more.