5 Major Events in the Medical History Every Aspiring Doctor Must Know

Breakthroughs in the medical sciences throughout history have played a major role in shaping the world. Medical feats have been achieved with the help of technology that has led doctors to understand the human body in aspects that were never imagined before. It is an understatement, but the advancements in medical sciences have touched the lives of every person on this planet. It is an ever-evolving field that is continuing to grow. Today, doctors are equipped with technology and knowledge to tackle various medical conditions, which were impossible a few decades ago.

A career in medicine is highly rewarding in all ways and is unlike any other profession. There have been some significant, ground-breaking research in the medical sciences and it is merely a beginning. Anyone who wants to become a doctor and is applying for the All India Medical Entrance must know some of the major medical events. Not only are they insightful, but they also show where we have come.

1. Insulin First Used to Treat Diabetes in 1922

Diabetes has been a long-standing medical problem that has taken many lives throughout history. In early 1922, Dr Fredrick Banting and Dr Charles Best used insulin for the first time to treat a diabetic person. However, both the doctors tested insulin on themselves first to confirm that using it was safe. Leonard Thomson – a patient with severe diabetes, received the first insulin dosage on January 11^th, 1922. He was earlier surviving on a ‘starvation’ diet that was used in those times to treat diabetic patients.

2. John Hopkins Invented the First Cardiac Pacemaker in 1950

The first functioning cardiac pacemaker was designed and built by a Canadian electrical engineer in 1950. John Hopps made the first pacemaker based upon the observations by cardio-thoracic surgeons Wilfred Gordon Bigelow and John Callaghan of the Toronto General Hospital. The role of a cardiac pacemaker is to control the abnormal heart rhythms.

3. First Test-Tube Baby is Born in 1978

The world’s first test tube baby – Louise Joy Brown was born on 25^th July 1978. Her mother – Lesley Brown underwent an IVF procedure on 10^th November 1977, developed by Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards. Even though Brown is primarily called as a test-tube baby, her conception took place in a petri dish. Today, IVF is a mainstream medical procedure; however, decades ago it was one of the major medical events that lead humanity to a new dawn.

4. HIV – The Virus that Causes AIDS is First Identified in 1983

The discovery of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) in 1983 was a major step towards understanding and treating AIDS. Robert Gallo and Luc Montagnier (separately) published two papers citing their discovery of HIV. However, Luc Montagnier is credited as the person who discovered HIV. The discovery of the virus has led to substantial treatment options being researched, and doctors have arrived at a position where HIV is more manageable than it was a couple of decades ago.

5. First Vaccine to Target a Cause of Cancer in 2006

In 2006, the first vaccine was approved for HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) that is known to cause cervical cancers, genital warts, and many other cancers. The vaccine can prevent HPV, which ultimately minimizes the risk for these cancers. According to stats, 4 out of 5 people have been exposed to HPV, which is a known cause for several types of cancers. The first vaccination for preventing cancer is leading medical sciences to a new high.

These 5 medical events have changed lives of millions of people. Today, more research is being carried out across all avenues to provide better healthcare. The previous methods are improving and paving the way for adoption of new technology. Anyone looking to become a doctor will make their journey more interesting if they know the events in the medical history! More so, if they are applying for the All India Medical Entrance, such events will generate curiosity and will hook them on science like nothing else.

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