Twenty-one years of service to medical science - Mary Papanicolaou

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I’ve just read an amazing article about Mary Papanicolaou, wife of George Papanicolaou, a pathologist who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine at least 18 times. The Pap smear test takes its name from George but it was Mary who took daily smear tests for over 21 years. In 1913, the couple emigrated to New York from Greece with only $250 to their name. George became assistant anatomist at Cornell Medical College. Mary joined him as a laboratory technician but as a volunteer, as it was against the rules to pay a spouse. After studying ovulation and cell changes in guinea pigs, human subjects were required, and Mary offered her services. For 21 years, she donated vaginal fluid EVERY DAY, while also processing and staining her own samples in the lab. Today, Pap smear results give early indication of some cancers and are responsible for saving hundreds of women’s lives. In Australia, the introduction of free two-yearly Pap tests has resulted in halving the incidence of cervical cancer. The couple continued their work for over 40 years. George died in Miami, Florida, in 1963. Mary continued his work at the Papanicolaou Cancer Research Institute and died in 1982. Mary’s given name was Andromache, which, in Greek, means "a woman fighting alongside men". A very apt name for a very generous lady.