Medical Milestones

First transfusion of human blood

1818

British obstetrician James Blundell performs the first successful transfusion of human blood.

Viruses are discovered

1892

Dimitri Ivanosky discovered viruses, however Ivanovski probably did not grasp the full meaning of his discovery. Beijerinck, in 1898, was the first to call them 'viruses'.

Penicillin was discovered

1928

Alexander Flamings discovered Penicillin, an antibiotic used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria such as pneumonia, scarlet fever, and ear, skin, and throat infections

First dialysis machine

1943

William J. Koldd built the first dialysis machine. He used it in World War II and had to hide it from the Nazi security.

First successful open heart surgery

1952

John Lewis and Walton Lillehei preformed the first successful open heart surgery.

First pacemaker

1958

First pacemaker was implanted by Dr. Rune Elmqvist, although it was first invented in 1952

First human lung transplant

1963

Dr. James Hardy preformed the first human lung transplant in Jackson, MS

First human heart transplant

1967

Dr. Chistiaan Barnard performed the first human heart transplant in South Africa.

Genetic fingerprinting

1986

Dr. Alec Jefferys made genetic fingerprinting available to the public, helping aid in forensics and crime labs.

Stem Cells

2007

Scientist discover how to use human skin cells to create embryonic stem cells.