Julia Tutelman Apter

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Julia E Tutelman Apter
Born
Julia Tutelman

April 7, 1918[1]
DiedApril 16, 1979[2]
Chicago, IL
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Northwestern University; Ph.D. in mathematical biology University of Chicago 1964
Occupation(s)surgeon and opthamalogist
Employer(s)Professor of Surgery, Rush Medical College
Organization(s)Rush Medical College, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Society
Known forMapping visual pathways, motor control, activism against sexism in biomedical research

Julia Tutelman Apter (1918-1979) was an ophthalmologist, neurophysiologist, and engineer who was also known for her activism to support women in science.

Education and career[edit]

Apter received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1939.[1] She earned an M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1943.[3] She then received her M.S. from Northwestern University in 1959, and a Ph.D. in 1964 from the University of Chicago. Apter worked at multiple institutions including Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.[4] She was a professor of surgery at the University of Illinois, and later became a professor of ophthalmology at Rush Medical College.[5] She established a practice in ophthalmology in Chicago around 1976.[5]

Apter was a founding member of the Biomedical Engineering Society.[6] Apter proposed the idea of a Committee on Professional Opportunities for Women to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and encouraged Thelma Estrin to join the committee.[7][8]

Apter died in 1979 in Chicago[5] of ovarian cancer.[2]

Research[edit]

She was one of the first specialists in neurophysiological research when she published her anatomical and functional mapping of the cat visual cortex in 1945.[9] She is known for her work on how the reflex circuit of the eye operates,[10] and she examined physical properties of the circulatory system.[11] A portion of her work combined neuroscience with mathematical principles,[12] and she worked on improving medical and scientific education and published about ways for medical students to use computer simulations of biological systems as part of their education.[13] Apter's research included investigations into LSD and how it stimulates the human eye to produce visual images.[14] Using cats as a model system, she detailed how LSD reversed potential overdoses of sleeping pills.[15][16]

Advocacy[edit]

Apter also actively worked to improve opportunities for women in science. In the early 1970s, Apter raised concerns about the lack of women on panels charged with reviewing applications for grant funding in the United States.[17][18] Apter herself was informed that she was not welcome on review panels because of her work advocating for women.[19] One of her colleagues noted that Apter was not always easy to get along with, and at one point Apter was locked out of her office during a disagreement with the administration at her hospital.[20]

Apter was a lead plaintiff in an unsuccessful 1973 class action suit, Apter v. Richardson.[21] Elliot Richardson was the secretary of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Apter was the spokesperson for the group of professional organizations involved in the suit. The case was initially dismissed when the court ruled she had no right to sue the government, but in 1973 she was given the right to sue.[22] Apter charged she was denied from the National Institutes of Health based on her gender and activism for women in science.[23][24] Apter and colleagues demonstrated there were many highly qualified women who could serve on grant review committees and compiled lists of names and credentials that were subsequently used to select women for grant review roles.[25] While the suit was not successful, afterwards more women were placed on grant review committees who dispersed US funding for scientific research.[26][27]: 3, 4, 294 

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Who's who of American women : a biographical dictionary of notable living American women 1961-1962"". Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  2. ^ a b "Obituaries". JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. 242 (16): 1795. 1979-10-19. doi:10.1001/jama.1979.03300160067040. ISSN 0098-7484.
  3. ^ https://exhibits.library.jhu.edu/exhibits/show/celebrating-the-philanthropy-o/garrett-s-legacy/female-graduates
  4. ^ "Contributors". IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. BME-19 (2): 169–172. March 1972. doi:10.1109/TBME.1972.324065. ISSN 1558-2531.
  5. ^ a b c "Dr. Julia Apter, Ophthalmologist And Researcher, 61, in Chicago". The New York Times. 1979-04-18. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  6. ^ Fagette Jr., Paul H.; Horner, Patricia I., eds. (2004). Celebrating 35 years of Biomedical Engineering: An Historical Perspective (PDF). Landover, MD: Biomedical Engineering Society. p. 4.
  7. ^ Nebeker, Frederik (1994). Sparks of genius : portraits of electrical engineering excellence. Internet Archive. New York : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-7803-1033-9.
  8. ^ "Oral-History:Thelma Estrin (2002)". ETHW. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  9. ^ Apter, Julia T. (1945-03-01). "PROJECTION OF THE RETINA ON SUPERIOR COLLICULUS OF CATS". Journal of Neurophysiology. 8 (2): 123–134. doi:10.1152/jn.1945.8.2.123. ISSN 0022-3077.
  10. ^ The Scientific Monthly. Vol. 69. Internet Archive. American Association for the Advancement of Science. 1949. p. 373.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ^ Apter, Julia T.; Rabinowitz, Murray; Cummings, Dorothy H. (1966). "Correlation of Visco-elastic Properties of Large Arteries with Microscopic Structure". Circulation Research. 19 (1): 104–121. doi:10.1161/01.RES.19.1.104. ISSN 0009-7330.
  12. ^ Apter, Julia T. (1966-08-01). "Mathematics in Medicine and the Life Sciences". JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. 197 (5): 376. doi:10.1001/jama.1966.03110050114039. ISSN 0098-7484.
  13. ^ Apter, Julia T. (1970). "The analog computer as a teaching aid in medical practice and research". Computers in Biology and Medicine. 1 (2): 133–140. doi:10.1016/0010-4825(70)90005-3.
  14. ^ "Dims Hope of Drug as 'Schizo' Aid". Des Moines Tribune. 1956-12-25. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  15. ^ McCormack, Patricia (1958-04-15). "New Drug Offers Cancer Control". Deseret News. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  16. ^ Apter, Julia T. (1958-06-01). "Analeptic Action of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD-25) Against Pentobarbital". Archives of Neurology And Psychiatry. 79 (6): 711. doi:10.1001/archneurpsyc.1958.02340060109015. ISSN 0096-6754.
  17. ^ Landau, Jack C. (1972-04-19). "Women scientists accuse U.S. agency of discrimination". Des Moines Tribune. p. 16. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  18. ^ Gilluly, Richard H. (1972-10-07). "The 'Unveiling' of Science Committees | Science News". Science News. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  19. ^ Kramer, Carol (1973-01-10). "'Found women' aim to lose wrong image". Chicago Tribune. p. 39. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  20. ^ Schwartz, Neena B. (2010). A lab of my own. Internet Archive. Amsterdam ; New York : Rodopi. p. 222. ISBN 978-90-420-2737-4.
  21. ^ Julia T. Apter (United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois June 29, 1973), Text. {Cite web |url=https://cite.case.law/set-cookie/?next=%2Ff-supp%2F361%2F1070%2F |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=cite.case.law}}
  22. ^ "Women Score Victory in N.I.H. suit". The Spokeswoman. 3 (12). June 15, 1973.
  23. ^ Jasanoff, Sheila (1995). Science at the bar : law, science, and technology in America. Internet Archive. Cambridge, MA. : Harvard University Press. pp. 96–97. ISBN 978-0-674-79303-3.
  24. ^ Charrow, Robert (2010). Law In The Laboratory A Guide To The Ethics Of Federally Funded Science Research. The University of Chicago Press. pp. 31–32.
  25. ^ United States. National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year (1976). " ... to form a more perfect union ..." : justice for American women : report of the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year. Internet Archive. [Washington : Dept. of State] : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  26. ^ D., S. (1971). "HEW Advisory Jobs to Go to Women". Science. 174 (4006): 271–271. ISSN 0036-8075.
  27. ^ Rossiter, Margaret W. (2012-04-02). Women Scientists in America: Forging a New World Since 1972. JHU Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-0233-8.
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