Helen Taussig
A pioneer in pediatric cardiology, she developed the Blalock-Taussig shunt procedure to treat 'blue baby syndrome'.
Most quoted
"The story of the Blalock-Taussig shunt is not just a story of a surgical procedure. It is a story of the triumph of hope and determination over a fatal disease."
— from Reflections on her work
"Research is not done in isolation. It is built upon the work of those who came before and in partnership with those who work beside you."
— from On scientific progress
"I believe in the power of careful clinical observation. The patient often tells you what you need to know if you listen closely enough."
— from Lecture notes
All quotes by Helen Taussig (411)
Listen to the parents. They know their child best.
Prevention of birth defects is the highest form of cure.
A steady hand is good, but a steady mind is better.
The color pink is the most beautiful color in the world when it appears on the lips of a blue baby.
I am a cardiologist, but first I am a doctor for children.
The pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey with no final destination.
Regulation in medicine is not about hindrance; it is about protecting the most vulnerable.
The heart's electrical system is nature's most reliable and delicate clock.
Doubt is the beginning of discovery, not the end of it.
My hearing loss forced me to develop other senses, to see what others might only hear.
The greatest reward is not the acclaim, but the sight of a child running and playing who once could not breathe.
Contemporaries of Helen Taussig
Other Medicines born within 50 years of Helen Taussig (1898–1986).