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)
Discovery in medicine often comes from observing the overlooked.
The thrill of seeing a blue baby turn pink is indescribable.
Anatomy is not destiny; surgery can rewrite it.
We must question established norms to progress in cardiology.
My work with Vivien Thomas was a partnership of equals.
The human heart holds mysteries that demand our utmost respect.
In pediatrics, every heartbeat counts doubly.
Innovation requires courage, especially in the operating room.
Life's greatest lessons come from its smallest patients.
Thalidomide's tragedy underscores the need for vigilant pharmacology.
I fought for the underdog because medicine should be just.
The pulse of progress beats in research and compassion.
Defects in the heart mirror imperfections in our knowledge.
Surgery on infants is a delicate dance with fate.
My deafness sharpened my focus on the visual signs of disease.
Hope is the surgeon's best tool.
Congenital heart disease knows no social boundaries.
The joy of healing outweighs every trial.
We learn more from failures than from successes in medicine.
The Blalock procedure saved thousands; teamwork did.
Contemporaries of Helen Taussig
Other Medicines born within 50 years of Helen Taussig (1898–1986).