Fuller Albright facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fuller Albright
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| Born | January 12, 1900 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
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| Died | December 8, 1969 (aged 69) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Harvard College Harvard Medical School Johns Hopkins School of Medicine |
| Occupation | Endocrinologist |
| Known for | Calcium metabolism |
| Spouse(s) |
Claire Birge
(m. 1932) |
| Children | Read Albright Birge Albright |
| Parent(s) | John J. Albright Susan Fuller |
Fuller Albright (January 12, 1900 – December 8, 1969) was an American doctor. He was an endocrinologist, which means he studied hormones and glands. He made many important discoveries about how our bodies use calcium. He helped us understand problems with calcium and phosphate in the body. He also wrote books about his findings.
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Early life and education
Fuller Albright was born on January 12, 1900. His hometown was Buffalo, New York. His father, John J. Albright, was a well-known businessman. He built the Albright Art Gallery in Buffalo. Fuller's mother was Susan Fuller.
Becoming a doctor
Fuller Albright went to Harvard College when he was seventeen. He finished college in three years. In 1920, he started at Harvard Medical School. At first, he was interested in babies and bones. But then, doctors discovered insulin. This made him want to study internal medicine. He became very interested in how the body uses food and energy, called metabolism.
After medical school, he worked at Massachusetts General Hospital. He spent a year researching calcium metabolism. He also studied lead poisoning. Later, he worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He even spent a year studying in Vienna.
Medical career
In the early 1930s, Albright came back to Boston. He joined the team at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). There, he quickly started a research group. They focused on endocrinology, the study of hormones. In 1939, he began working with Anne Pappenheimer Forbes. They worked together for a long time.
Albright made many important discoveries in medicine. He described a bone disease called polyostotic fibrous dysplasia. He also studied hyperparathyroidism. This is when glands in your neck make too much hormone. He helped explain Cushing's syndrome. He also studied renal tubular acidosis. This is when kidneys have trouble balancing acids in the body. He showed how menopause affects osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease. He also found different types of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This is a problem with the adrenal glands from birth.
Awards and recognition
Fuller Albright received many honors for his work. In 1941, he became a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He led several important medical societies. These included the American Society for Clinical Investigation. He also led the Endocrine Society. In 1955, he was chosen for the National Academy of the Sciences.
To honor his work, the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research gives an award. It's called the Fuller Albright Award. They give it every year for great achievements in bone research.
- Roche-Organnon Award in Endocrinology (1947)
- American College of Physicians Award for Achievement in Internal Medicine (1947)
- Borden Award (1949)
- The Joseph Goldberger Award (1951)
- Doctorate of Science from Harvard University (1955)
Personal life
In 1930, Fuller Albright met Claire Birge. They got married in 1933. His father bought them a house in Brookline, Massachusetts. They had two sons together:
- Read Albright (1939-2011)
- Birge Albright (1935-2023)
In 1937, Albright developed Parkinson's disease. This disease affects movement. By 1956, his symptoms were very difficult. He had an experimental brain surgery. The surgery on his right side helped. But the surgery on his left side caused bleeding. This left him unable to speak and in a coma. He stayed in this state for the last 13 years of his life. He was cared for at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Death and legacy
Fuller Albright passed away on December 8, 1969. A medical sign, called the Albright's dimple sign, is named after him. This shows how important his work was.
