Life
1901-1995 (94 years old)
Country
United States
Year of great discovery/work
1931 and 1957
As a microbiologist, Pittman classified types of Haemophilus influenzae bacteria and identified which strains cause meningitis in young infants. Of those strains she isolated (a-f), she determined that type b caused almost all cases of disease. Her career’s work also informed the standardization of vaccines and the development of a more effective pertussis vaccine.
Did you know?
In 1957, Pittman became the first female director of the National Institutes of Health.
In 1957, Pittman became the first female director of the National Institutes of Health.