Maude E Abbott - Physician and scientist of international fame

Dr Maude E Abbott (1869 to 1940) is the only Canadian and the only woman re presented in Diego Rivera's great mural of the History of Cardiology in Mex ico City. She gained this place among the world's famous physicians and sci entists by her outstanding studies of congenital heart disease. Her atlas o f 1000 cases with clinical, pathological and morphological findings is the first systematic study of these anomalies. Dr Abbott developed a patho-phys iological classification of cardiovascular defects fundamental for the deve lopment of cardiac surgery. She also considered prevention by prenatal care , recognizing possible genetic and environmental risk factors. Maude Abbott was a thoughtful clinician and a brilliant scientist of incomparable indus try. She leaves an unfinished legacy to make the prevention of congenital h eart disease a reality.