Dr. Bernadine Healy, the first woman to serve as Director of the National Institutes of Health, died at her home in Cleveland last Saturday. Dr. Healy also served as head of the American Red Cross during the September 11 terrorist attacks, and as Dean of the Ohio State University Medical School.

Dr. Healy was forceful and outspoken, and was a strong women’s health advocate. She said:

“I always try not to be strident, but I do try to be forceful about things that are right.”

One of the things about which she was right as well as forceful was stem cells; she noted back in 2009 that embryonic stem cells already were obsolete. Cutting-edge science has passed by embryonic stem cells, not only with the advent of iPS cells as a superior alternative for laboratory studies, but more significantly with adult stem cells for patient treatments now.

Dr. Healy, thank you for your forceful advocacy and integrity.

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