The cellular marker now known as the Reed-Sternberg cell was identified in 1901 by a pathologist who determined that Hodgkin's disease was distinct from tuberculosis. Dorothy Reed Mendenhall, an American physician and scientist, successfully challenged the prevailing medical consensus of her era through rigorous investigation of lymph nodes and tissue samples while working at Johns Hopkins.
Academic Training and Challenges
Born in Columbus in 1874, Mendenhall initially lacked formal schooling, relying on a governess for early education. She entered Smith College in 1891, graduating in 1895. Developing an interest in medicine, she completed necessary science coursework at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before gaining admission to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. As one of the few women in her cohort, she navigated a professional environment characterized by hostility from male peers and instructors, including initial resistance from Dr. William Osler regarding her internship eligibility.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Pathological Research
In 1901, Mendenhall served as a pathology fellow under Dr. William Welch. Her work involved comparing tissue samples to isolate the specific cellular characteristics of Hodgkin's disease. By utilizing infected lymph nodes to treat rabbits, she observed a unique, large cell not present in tuberculosis patients. These findings, which she published in 1902, provided a diagnostic tool for clinicians and clarified that men and young adults faced the highest vulnerability to the condition.
Pediatric Medicine and Public Health
Mendenhall shifted her focus to pediatrics after working as a resident at Babies Hospital in New York City starting in 1903. Later, her career pivoted to public health, driven by personal experiences regarding the health of her two children. At the University of Wisconsin, she established an infant welfare clinic in 1915, contributing to a reduced infant mortality rate in Madison. Between 1917 and 1936, she served as a medical officer for the U.S. Children's Bureau, conducting national assessments of child nutrition and researching infant mortality rates across Europe.
Fast facts
- Born: 1874, Columbus
- Died: 1964, Chester
- Education: Smith College, MIT, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- Primary research: Pathology of Hodgkin's disease
- Known discovery: Reed-Sternberg cell (1901)
- Professional affiliation: U.S. Children's Bureau (1917-1936)
- Burial site: Forest Hill Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the cell Mendenhall discovered?
She identified it as a diagnostic marker that proved Hodgkin's disease was not a type of tuberculosis.
What was Mendenhall's role during World War I?
She served as a medical officer for the U.S. Children's Bureau and conducted studies on child nutrition and mortality.
