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"It's amazing how much you can accomplish
when you don't care who gets the credit."
Gertrude Elion's accomplishments over the course
of her long career as a chemist were tremendous.
Among the many drugs she developed were the first
chemotherapy for childhood leukemia, the
immunosuppressant that made organ transplantation
possible, the first effective anti-viral
medication, and treatments for lupus, hepatitis,
arthritis, gout, and other diseases. With her
research partner, George Hitchings, she
revolutionized the way drugs were developed, and
her efforts have saved or improved the lives of
countless individuals.
Although Elion herself cared far more about the
practical outcome of her lab's collective work than
about her own reputation, her achievements earned
her one of the highest honors a scientist can
receive: the Nobel Prize in Medicine. She overcame
enormous obstacles to reach this pinnacle. Battling
longstanding prejudices against women in science,
she initially had trouble even getting a job, but a
combination of brilliance, determination, and
stubbornness brought her to the top of her
profession. She was the fifth female Nobel laureate
in Medicine, the ninth in science in general, and
she reached this height without earning a Ph.D.
Elion worked tirelessly to convey the fun and
excitement of science to students of all ages and
to encourage children—especially girls—to
pursue scientific careers. A warm, animated woman
with a great love of life, she was also an avid
photographer, an eager traveler, and a true opera
enthusiast. Her achievements, her curiosity about
the world around her, her generosity, and her
concern for humanity make her not only a valuable
role model for budding scientists but also an
inspiration for all who wish to better the
world.
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