• Conjoined twins were seperated for the first time

    On September 17 1953, a pair of Siamese twins got separated for the first time.
  • Joseph Murray performed the first kidney transplant in humans

    In 1954 Joseph Murray performed the first kidney transplant in a human, it was the first long term successful kidney transplant.
  • Albert Sabin developed an oral polio vaccine

    Albert Sabin developed a polio vaccine taken orally, he is known for nearly eradicating the virus.
  • 1962

    An arm severed from the shoulder got successfully reattached for the first time, the arm ended up fully healing and being functional
  • 1963

    First successful liver transplant. It was on a 3 year old.
  • 1964

    The first lung transplant in a man
  • 1967

    The first hospice was founded in England
  • 1967

    First successful heart transplant done by Christian Barnard
  • 1975

    CAT scan was developed
  • 1978

    The first test tube baby was born in England
  • 1981

    Acquired immune deficiency syndrome was identified as a disease
  • 1990

    The first gene therapy to treat diseases occurred
  • 1991

    OSHA's Blood-borne Pathogens Standards became effective
  • 1992

    NCCAM was established by NIH to research and establish standards of quality care
  • 1994

    A vaccine for Hepatitis A became available
  • 1995

    A vaccine for chicken pox was approved
  • 1997

    Oregon enacted the Death with Dignity Act to allow terminally ill individuals to end their lives
  • 1997

    A sheep got cloned for the first time. The sheep (named Dolly) lived for 6.5 years
  • 1998

    The first successful larynx(voice box) transplant was performed
  • 1999

    An international team of scientists sequenced the first human chromosome