Her initial training was with nurse anesthetists at Columbia. She then spent six months each with Ralph Waters at Madison, Wisconsin, and Ernest Rovenstine at Bellevue Hospital, New York.

She returned to Columbia in 1938 as Director of the Division of Anesthesia, and established a strong unit over 10 years. In 1949, Emmanuel Papper became chairman of the department, and Dr Apgar moved into obstetric anesthesia.

The idea for her score was conceived over breakfast in the hospital cafeteria when a medical student questioned her about methods for assessing the newborn. Apgar promptly sat down and wrote her scoring method on the back of a notice which told people what to do with their trays. It was first presented at a meeting in 1952, and published in 1953. Virginia Apgar then went on to do further important research in neonatal acid-base status, especially in terms of hypoxia and acidosis, and also on the effects of maternal anesthesia on the neonate. She also introduced the anterior approach to the stellate ganglion in 1948.

She is one of only two anesthesiologists to be honored on a U.S.stamp (the other being Crawford Long).

Michael Cooper