Martha MacGuffie

Martha M. MacGuffie (1924–2011) (nicknamed "Bobby") was the first woman reconstructive and plastic surgeon to graduate from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, in 1949. She was also the first woman surgeon to serve on the staff of a major suburban hospital, at Nyack Hospital in Nyack, New York.[1] Macguffie helped establish the burns unit there and developed a water bed to reduce pain experienced by burn patients. During her 50-year medical career, MacGuffie treated over 50,000 patients.[2] In 2003, the journal P&S published by the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia named her to their list of 15 "P&S Graduates who Helped Change the World".[3] She died on March 7, 2011.[4]

Dr.

Martha MacGuffie
Born
Martha MacGuffie

(1924-01-22)22 January 1924
New York City
Died7 March 2011(2011-03-07) (aged 87)
Nyack, New York
Education
OccupationReconstructive and plastic surgeon
Years active1949–2008
EmployerNyack Hospital, Nyack, New York (1950–2005)
Known forSHARE Africa, international AIDS charity
Websiteshareafrica.org

Early life and education

MacGuffie graduated from the Beard School in Orange, New Jersey (now Morristown-Beard School) in 1942. In 1995, Morristown-Beard School awarded her their Distinguished Alumni Award.[5] She received her bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1946 and her medical degree from Columbia in 1949. MacGuffie then completed her medical internship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City in 1950. Starting on her job search, Macguffie asked for a recommendation from Columbia's Dean of Medicine. His recommendation read, "This woman is large, powerful, and tireless." [6]

AIDS treatment activism

MacGuffie co-founded the Society for Hospital and Resources Exchange (SHARE)[7] as an international nonprofit organization to promote greater treatment services for AIDS in Africa. SHARE has built medical facilities, organized mobile clinics, and provided training on AIDS. They have also provided education, social services, health services, and basic necessities to children orphaned by AIDS in Western Kenya. The deaths of two of MacGuffie's children from AIDS because of tainted blood transfusions for Fanconi anemia inspired her work to improve worldwide treatment of the disease.[8]

Recognition and legacy

In 1998, Lions Clubs International awarded Macguffie their Lions' Humanitarian Award, which has also honored the work of Mother Teresa, Jimmy Carter, Tim Shriver, and Danny Kaye.[9] The Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation presented her their Helen Hayes MacArthur Award in 2003.[10] The New York State Senate awarded her their Women of Distinction Award in 2011.[8]

References
  1. "Alumni Weekend". The Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. 19 (3).
  2. Robert Heinemann. "Friends, Family Gather at New City Library to Remember Dr. Martha MacGuffie". Patch.com.
  3. Wortsman, Peter (2003). "P&S Graduates. Who Helped Change the World". P&S. Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. 23 (3).
  4. Robin Traum. "Rockland Mourns the Death of Dr. Martha 'Bobby' MacGuffie". Patch.com.
  5. Distinguished Alumni: 1995 - Martha M. MacGuffie - 1942 Archived 2013-12-13 at the Wayback Machine "Dr. MacGuffie has been a tireless worker for the war on AIDS. MacGuffie's dedicated a large portion of her time to SHARE (Society for Hospital and Resources Exchange) and helped make conditions in Kenya a little bit better for the residents. She worked extensively with Double Joy Farm, an orphanage for children whose parents succumbed to AIDS. She helped bring clean water and small luxuries (blankets, beds, etc.) to the area's children. She instituted procedures in the hospitals that improved hygiene so that babies didn't die unnecessarily. While she understood the severity of the AIDS problem in Africa, she also understood intimately that the problem existed here at home. She lost her two youngest sons to AIDS following transfusions at a time when it was not known that AIDS could be transmitted that way."
  6. "Pioneer Female Surgeon Still on Cutting Edge : Medicine: At 70 she maintains a thriving practice. She has developed anti-cancer skin products and volunteered her help in Third World". The Associated Press. 17 October 1994.
  7. "Society Snapshots". Palm Beach Post. January 12, 1997.
  8. Dr. Martha Macguffie
  9. Humanitarian Award Winners
  10. Helen Hayes MacArthur Award Winners
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