Helen Murray Free: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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===Early life=== |
===Early life=== |
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Helen Murray was born on February 20, 1923 the daughter of James S. Murray, a coal company salesman, and Daisy |
Helen Murray was born hi on February 20, 1923 the daughter of James S. Murray, a coal company salesman, and Daisy biper Murray, who died during an influenza epidemic when Helen was six. |
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===Education=== |
===Education=== |
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Revision as of 18:33, 2 November 2009
Helen Murray Free | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 20, 1923 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | The College of Wooster Central Michigan University |
| Known for | Self-Testing Systems for Diabetes |
| Awards | ACS Garvan Metal (1970) Kilby Award (1996) National Inventors Hall of Fame (2000) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
Helen Murray Free (b. February 20, 1923, Pittsburgh, PA) is a retired American chemist and educator. She received a B.S. in chemistry from The College of Wooster in 1944 and an M.A. in management from Central Michigan University in 1978. In 1974 she married Albert Free, a fellow researcher in urinalysis. She is most known for her creation of many self-testing systems for diabetes while working at Miles Laboratories, which is now owned by Bayer AG. She currently is an Adjunct Professor of Management at Indiana University South Bend, and a Consultant for Bayer AG.
Biography
Early life
Helen Murray was born hi on February 20, 1923 the daughter of James S. Murray, a coal company salesman, and Daisy biper Murray, who died during an influenza epidemic when Helen was six.
Education
Helen received her early education from the public schools in Youngstown, Ohio, and graduated in 1941 as the valedictorian Poland Seminary High School. While attending a summer camp at the College of Wooster, Helen set her heart on attending Wooster. Greatly influenced by her high school English teacher, she originally intended to major in English and Latin in hopes of becoming a teacher; however, these plans soon changed. In December 1941 when Pearl Harbor was bombed, many young men either enlisted or were drafted into the army. Because of this, women were encouraged to pursue careers in science, so Helen switched her major to chemistry in which she received her B.S. in 1944. She has said that her switch to chemistry was the “most terrific thing” that ever happened to her. [1]
Career
After graduating from Wooster, Helen immediately began working as a quality control chemist for Miles Laboratories (known as the creators of Alka-Seltzer); however, she aspired to be a researcher as opposed to working in quality control. When Alfred Free had a position open in his biochemistry research group, she interviewed and filled the position. She would later marry Alfred Free 1947 and have six children with him.
Originally they researched different antibiotics before they moved on to dry reagent systems.
Later, Free worked with her husband to move the tests from tablets to strips, introducing Clinistix (the famous “dip-and-read” test) in 1956. Several other testing strips were developed and added to the market, including Uristix, Ketostix, Dextrostox, Labstix, and a still-current product, Multistix.[2] These products are still used today.
In 1969, Free moved into the Growth and Development Department, and she eventually became the director of Specialty Test Systems in 1976. She was Director of Marketing Services for the Research Products Division when Bayer Diagnostics acquired Miles in 1978. [3][4]
She also earned an MA in Management (Health Care Administration) from Central Michigan University (1978), and is an Adjunct Professor of Management at Indiana University South Bend [5]
By 1975, Free had earned seven patents for her improvements in medical and clinical urinalysis testing. In that year, she and her husband co-authored their second book, Urinalysis in Laboratory Practice, which is still a standard work in the field. [5]
She retired in 1982, but continues to work as a consultant for Bayer Diagnostics.
Later Years
After her retirement, she became an active promoter of science education. She has devoted special attention to educating both female and underprivileged students, through programs such as "Kids & Chemistry" and "Expanding Your Horizons."
In 1993 she was elected president of the ACS. As president, Free considered her top priority to be to raise public awareness of the positive role chemistry has played in our lives. The ACS named an award in her honor, the Helen M. Free Award in Public Outreach. [1]
In 2000 she was inducted into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame.
Patents
- Free et al., U.S. Patent 3,087,794 , " CHEMICAL TEST FOR DIFFERENTIATING LEUCOCYTES FROM ERYTHROCYTES"
- Free, U.S. Patent 2,912,309 , “INDICATOR FOR DETECTING GLUCOSE”
References
- ^ a b "Women in Chemistry: Helen Free". Chemheritage.org. 1998-12-14. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- ^ http://www.chemheritage.org/exhibits/ex-oral-detail.asp?ID=176
- ^ "Helen M. Free". Uakron.edu. 2006-07-21. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- ^ "JCE Online: Biographical Snapshots: Snapshot". Jchemed.chem.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- ^ a b "Inventor of the Week: Archive". Web.mit.edu. Retrieved 2009-05-09.