Our Past Shapes Our Future

Barbara Barlow

I don’t forget any children that died. You live with it, forever.

Barbara Barlow was the first woman to train in pediatric surgery at Babies Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. As Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Harlem Hospital, she became alarmed at the high rate of admissions of children suffering from preventable injuries. Her research and advocacy, including the founding of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, has helped to dramatically reduce accidents and injuries to children throughout the United States.

 

Barlow-Portrait-1.jpg
<! data-preserve-html-node="true"--! Font Awesome Pro 6.1.2 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. -->

Born: 1938

Birthplace: Pennsylvania

<! data-preserve-html-node="true"--! Font Awesome Pro 6.1.2 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. -->

Medical Specialty

Pediatric Surgery and Research

<! data-preserve-html-node="true"--! Font Awesome Pro 6.1.2 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. -->

Alma Dea Morani Award

Year: 2001  |   Read more

Awards and Honors

  • CDC Foundation Hero Award (2011)
  • ACS Domestic Volunteer Award (2018)
  • C. Everett Koop Medal of Distinction (2021)

Education & Training

Undergraduate

Vassar College BA | 1960

Graduate

Columbia University MA, Psychology | 1963

Medical Degree

Albert Einstein College of MedicineMD | 1967

Residency Training

Bronx Municipal Hospital

Fellowship

Babies Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical CenterPediatric Surgery Fellow | 1975

 

Career

Harlem Hospital Center

Chief of Pediatric Surgery1975-1999

Harlem Hospital Center

Director of Surgery 1999-2009

Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

Professor Emerita of Surgery in Epidemiology
Current

Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

Special Lecturer, Department of Epidemiology
Current

Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

Co-Director of Outreach, Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention
Current

 

Professional Leadership and Advocacy

Injury Free Coalition for Kids

Founder; Executive Director 1995-Present

 Her Life in Her Own Words

 

The Alma Dea Morani Renaissance Woman in Medicine Oral History Project

Oral histories enable women to share their stories in their own words and better shape the legacy they leave behind.

The Alma Dea Morani Renaissance Woman in Medicine Oral History Project highlights the recipients of the Foundation’s Alma Dea Morani, MD Renaissance Woman Award. It’s a unique collection of medical pioneers housed in the collections of the Harvard Countway Library of Medicine and highlighted in a Countway online exhibit.

Barbara Barlow is one of these pioneers.

 Her Advocacy for Women in Medicine

From the Foundation Blog

 

Support These Stories

 

So many women remain disconnected from their history as women in medicine because the collections aren't digitized or were never created in the first place.

Women's stories matter, and we need your help to ensure these stories are accessibly preserved and connected to what's happening today so we create a stronger future