Margaret Pittman
Encyclopedia
Dr. Margaret Pittman was a bacteriologist at the Laboratory of Biological Product, Division of Biologics Standards at the U.S. National Institutes of Health whose work on pertussis
led to the development of an improved vaccination
against whooping cough. Pittman was also the first female to lead a National Institute of Health laboratory; she was appointed Chief of this laboratory in 1952. While at the NIH Pittman was concerned primarily with the development of potency assays and the correlation of lab assays with human efficacy, especially with pertussis, typhoid and cholera vaccines.
Margaret Pittman was born on January 20, 1901 near Prairie Grove, Arkansas
. Her father, Dr. James Pittman, was a physician and young Margaret would often help her father in his practice. She attended Hendrix College
in Conway, Arkansas
for her undergraduate studies. In 1923 she graduated at the top of her class with a BA in biology and mathematics and started teaching at Galloway College in Searcy, Arkansas. She then went to the University of Chicago
and in 1926 received a Master's degree in bacteriology and then went on to earn her Ph.D. in 1929. The 1918-19 influenza pandemic geared her studies toward respiratory infections and she went on to work as an assistant scientist at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research for 1928-1934. Due to a lack of funds at the Rockefeller Institute, she was forced to get a job at the New York State Department of Health for a few years. In 1936 she started at NIH working with her mentor from University of Chicago, Sara E. Branham. Pittman stayed at NIH until she was forced to retire at age 70 in 1971.
During her prolific career Pittman was involved with a large number of panels on biological standardization including the World Health Organization
Expert Committee on Biological Standardization, the U.S. Pharmacopeia Panel on Sterility and again with the Panel of Biological Indicators, the Commission on Immunization of the Armed Forced Epidemiological Board and the International Association of Biological Standardization. She was also a long-term member of several professional organizations, such as the American Society of Microbiology where she served as President of the Washington Branch from 1949-1950.
Pittman published over one-hundred scientific articles from 1930-1993 and was the recipient of numerous awards, including an honorary LL.D. from Hendrix College, a Superior Service Award in 1963 and a Distinguished Service Award in 1967 from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the Federal Woman's Award in 1970, and a Professional Achievement Award from the University of Chicago Alumni Association.
Retirement didn't slow Pittman down any as she was invited to stay on at the newly created Bureau of Biologics at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a guest worker. Freed from administrative duties Pittman traveled extensively, serving as guest scientist in nine countries. In addition, she was appointed a WHO consultant and spent three months each in Cairo and Madrid.
Dr. Pittman died on August 19, 1995 in Cheverly, Maryland
and is buried in Prairie Grove, Arkansas.
Pertussis
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough , is a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. Symptoms are initially mild, and then develop into severe coughing fits, which produce the namesake high-pitched "whoop" sound in infected babies and children when they inhale air...
led to the development of an improved vaccination
Vaccination
Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material to stimulate the immune system of an individual to develop adaptive immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by many pathogens...
against whooping cough. Pittman was also the first female to lead a National Institute of Health laboratory; she was appointed Chief of this laboratory in 1952. While at the NIH Pittman was concerned primarily with the development of potency assays and the correlation of lab assays with human efficacy, especially with pertussis, typhoid and cholera vaccines.
Margaret Pittman was born on January 20, 1901 near Prairie Grove, Arkansas
Prairie Grove, Arkansas
Prairie Grove is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,540 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located here is the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park...
. Her father, Dr. James Pittman, was a physician and young Margaret would often help her father in his practice. She attended Hendrix College
Hendrix College
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college located in Conway, Arkansas. The student body averages around 1,400 and currently represents forty-three states and fourteen foreign countries. In US News and World Report's America's Best Colleges, Hendrix is ranked annually in the top tier of...
in Conway, Arkansas
Conway, Arkansas
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
for her undergraduate studies. In 1923 she graduated at the top of her class with a BA in biology and mathematics and started teaching at Galloway College in Searcy, Arkansas. She then went to the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and in 1926 received a Master's degree in bacteriology and then went on to earn her Ph.D. in 1929. The 1918-19 influenza pandemic geared her studies toward respiratory infections and she went on to work as an assistant scientist at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research for 1928-1934. Due to a lack of funds at the Rockefeller Institute, she was forced to get a job at the New York State Department of Health for a few years. In 1936 she started at NIH working with her mentor from University of Chicago, Sara E. Branham. Pittman stayed at NIH until she was forced to retire at age 70 in 1971.
During her prolific career Pittman was involved with a large number of panels on biological standardization including the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
Expert Committee on Biological Standardization, the U.S. Pharmacopeia Panel on Sterility and again with the Panel of Biological Indicators, the Commission on Immunization of the Armed Forced Epidemiological Board and the International Association of Biological Standardization. She was also a long-term member of several professional organizations, such as the American Society of Microbiology where she served as President of the Washington Branch from 1949-1950.
Pittman published over one-hundred scientific articles from 1930-1993 and was the recipient of numerous awards, including an honorary LL.D. from Hendrix College, a Superior Service Award in 1963 and a Distinguished Service Award in 1967 from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the Federal Woman's Award in 1970, and a Professional Achievement Award from the University of Chicago Alumni Association.
Retirement didn't slow Pittman down any as she was invited to stay on at the newly created Bureau of Biologics at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a guest worker. Freed from administrative duties Pittman traveled extensively, serving as guest scientist in nine countries. In addition, she was appointed a WHO consultant and spent three months each in Cairo and Madrid.
Dr. Pittman died on August 19, 1995 in Cheverly, Maryland
Cheverly, Maryland
Cheverly is a town in central Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., United States. The town was founded in 1918 and it was incorporated in 1931. Cheverly had 6,433 residents as of the 2000 Census....
and is buried in Prairie Grove, Arkansas.
External links
- Obituary of Margaret Pittman. Northwest Arkansas Times. September 1, 1995, p. 2A