Part 3

"Since Avery and Mead," a speech by William H. Taeusch, 1985

Surfactant replacement therapy is still used to treat premature infants with RDS today. Avery was awarded the National Medal of Science for her discovery in 1991.  By 2005 there were 860 infant deaths a year in the U.S. from respiratory distress syndrome, down from almost 10,000 a year in 1970.

In his 1985 speech called "Since Avery and Mead" (pictured at right), William Taeusch tells an especially exciting version of the surfactant story, comparing different groups of pulmonary researchers to NBA teams.

In a letter of congratulations (see below) to Avery from Judith Palfrey, chief of the Division of General Pediatrics at Children's Hospital, she says:

"Perhaps I have told you before, but one of the most important moments in my own career in understanding what it means to focus on areas of importance was the night you told the story of your decision to work on the sheep lung. I can visualize with you your drive down Broadway with your decision to focus on pathophysiology and leave social pediatrics to others for the time being. Your decision at that time clearly was the right one, leading you to the Rose Garden and many children to better health."