Dorothy Hansine Andersen

Book excerpt: This book chronicles the life and accomplishments of Dorothy Hansine Andersen, a pioneering American pathologist and pediatrician who was the first person to define, diagnose, and treat cystic fibrosis. Divided into three parts, the book begins by detailing Anderson’s early life, including being orphaned as an adolescent, her college career, and her laborious start in the medical field. Part II then examines Andersen’s role in defining the new disease “cystic fibrosis of the pancreas” and her career of active engagement in various clinical pursuits and research, both in pathology and pediatrics. Chapters in this section also discuss the numerous attempts made by others to minimize Andersen’s work through gender bias and the Matilda Effect. The book concludes by reviewing the foundations laid for CF, Andersen’s legacy, and her terminal illness. Featuring an engaging narrative style, Dorothy Hansine Andersen is a historically relevant, invaluable text for anyone interested in the life of Dorothy Anderson and the nascence of cystic fibrosis diagnoses.