Founders of Pediatric Pathology: Ward Thomas Burdick (1878–1928)

Maud Menten: Pioneering Pediatric-Perinatal Pathologist, Clinician-Scientist, and “the Most Wonderful Human Being in the World”

“…22,23 Ward Thomas Burdick was likely the second, as he was appointed laboratory director when the new Denver Children's Hospital opened its doors in 1917; however, Burdick is primarily known as a co-founder of the American Society for Clinical Pathology. 24,25 There is no evidence that Burdick ever held an academic appointment, and his limited publication record does not demonstrate a special interest in pediatric pathology but rather is narrowly focused on organizing the pathology profession in America. 24 Little information is available related to Isaac Huber Erb (1886-1965), who was appointed as a pathologist at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children in 1919 and director of pathology and bacteriology in 1921; however, his pediatric pathology job was not fulltime, as he simultaneously served as consulting pathologist for the provincial attorney general's office, and he had an extensive clinical private practice treating allergies.…”

“…24,25 There is no evidence that Burdick ever held an academic appointment, and his limited publication record does not demonstrate a special interest in pediatric pathology but rather is narrowly focused on organizing the pathology profession in America. 24 Little information is available related to Isaac Huber Erb (1886-1965), who was appointed as a pathologist at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children in 1919 and director of pathology and bacteriology in 1921; however, his pediatric pathology job was not fulltime, as he simultaneously served as consulting pathologist for the provincial attorney general's office, and he had an extensive clinical private practice treating allergies. He was appointed an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Toronto (UofT) late in his career.…”

Martha Wollstein of Babies Hospital in New York City (1868–1939)—The First North American Pediatric Pathologist

“…Third, the hospital-based model of lab service provision was barely in its infancy in the late 19th century 47,59 and certainly tiny hospitals specializing in babies or children, with the exception of Ward Burdick's Denver Children's Hospital, 2 were not at the forefront of this movement when it eventually took off in the 1920s.…”

“…1 One of us (JRW) recently published a Founders of Pediatric Pathology paper on Denver Children's Hospital pathologist Ward Burdick, whose career was dramatically different than that of those described above; Burdick did not train any pediatric pathologists but was 1 of 2 cofounders of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, which played a critical role in establishing hospital-based practice of pathology in North America. 2 In the following article, we highlight the career of another notable pediatric pathologist who has been forgotten by our specialty and who breaks the typical mold. While not training any pediatric pathologists, Martha Wollstein (Figure 1) was almost certainly the first fully specialized pediatric perinatal pathologist practicing exclusively in a North American children's hospital.…”

The Politics Underlying the Provision of and Changes in Pathology and Laboratory Services in the United States During the Roaring Twenties

“…Letters of mild protest were sent to honorary consultants whose names figured in the advertisements of a laboratory on the ''chain of stores'' plan, pointing out the anomaly of their position as teachers in medical schools lending their prestige to a commercial concern. 16(p682) Later in 1921, the Colorado society, led by Philip Hillkowitz, MD, 19 and Ward Burdick, MD, 20 wrote letters to all physicians listing themselves as clinical pathologists in the AMA directory; these letters included a circular proposing the formation of a national society. Based upon a highly favorable response, a meeting was arranged to coincide with the upcoming AMA meeting in St Louis.…”