Jane Cooke Wright (1919-2013) was an American physician and cancer researcher who made significant contributions to chemotherapy, a field that was still in its infancy during her time. Wright’s work helped to establish chemotherapy as a legitimate treatment option for cancer patients. Wright was born in New York City, New York, and grew up in a family of physicians; her father was a renowned cancer researcher, and her mother was a public health activist.
Wright received her medical degree from New York Medical College in 1945 and began working as a research fellow at Columbia University. She later joined the staff at New York University Medical Center, where she established the Cancer Chemotherapy Service. Wright’s research focused on developing new chemotherapy drugs and exploring the effectiveness of existing ones. She also conducted clinical trials to test the drugs on cancer patients.
One of Wright’s most significant contributions to chemotherapy was her work on methotrexate, a drug that is still used to treat cancer today. Wright was the first to demonstrate the drug’s effectiveness in treating breast cancer, and she went on to develop other chemotherapy drugs that were effective against leukemia and other types of cancer.
Wright was the first woman elected president of the American Association for Cancer Research and was also the first African American woman to hold a senior faculty position at a medical school. Her pioneering work in chemotherapy paved the way for future generations of cancer researchers and helped to save countless lives.
Jane Cooke Wright
If you are interested in knowing more about Jane Cooke Wright, it’s surely a good idea to look at these 25 interesting facts about her.
- Jane Cooke Wright was born on November 30, 1919, in New York City.
- She was the oldest of two children born to Corinne and Louis T. Wright.
- Both of her parents were physicians and public health activists.
- Wright was interested in medicine from a young age and often accompanied her parents on their medical rounds.
- She attended Hunter College High School, a prestigious all-girls school in New York City.
- Wright graduated from New York Medical College in 1945.
- She completed her internship and residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.
- Wright married David D. Jones, a medical researcher, in 1952. They had two daughters together.
- Wright began her career as a research fellow at Columbia University in 1949.
- She joined the staff at New York University Medical Center in 1952 and remained there for over 20 years.
- Wright established the Cancer Chemotherapy Service at NYU in 1955.
- She was the first black woman to be appointed to a senior faculty position at a medical school in the United States.
- Wright was also the first woman elected president of the American Association for Cancer Research in 1971.
- She served as a consultant to the National Cancer Institute from 1962 to 1975.
- Wright’s research focused on developing new chemotherapy drugs and testing their effectiveness on cancer patients.
- She discovered that the drug methotrexate was effective in treating breast cancer.
- Wright also developed other chemotherapy drugs that were effective against leukemia and other types of cancer.
- She co-authored over 100 scientific papers and was awarded several patents for her work.
- Wright received numerous honors and awards for her contributions to cancer research, including the National Medal of Science in 2008.
- She was also inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2004.
- Wright was a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the sciences.
- She was a mentor to many young scientists, particularly women and minorities.
- Wright was an accomplished pianist and often played at medical conferences and events.
- She was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
- Wright passed away on February 19, 2013, at the age of 93.
Jane Cooke Wright was a pioneering physician and cancer researcher who made significant contributions to the field of chemotherapy. She was a trailblazer for women and minorities in medicine, breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations. Wright’s dedication to her work and her commitment to improving the lives of cancer patients will long be remembered and celebrated. Her legacy continues to inspire and motivate those working in the field of cancer research today, as we strive to build on her achievements and find new and innovative ways to treat and cure this devastating disease.
