Howard W. Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howard W. Jones
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Jones in a 2010 interview
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| Born |
Howard Wilbur Jones, Jr.
December 30, 1910 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
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| Died | July 31, 2015 (aged 104) Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
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| Education | Johns Hopkins School of Medicine |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Medicine |
| Institutions | Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Eastern Virginia Medical School |
| Sub-specialties | In vitro fertilization |
Howard Wilbur Jones, Jr. (born December 30, 1910 – died July 31, 2015) was an American doctor who specialized in women's health. He and his wife, Georgeanna Seegar Jones, were pioneers in a field called reproductive medicine. They helped create the first "test tube baby" in the United States. Dr. Jones also wrote and spoke about when human life truly begins.
Dr. Jones taught at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for many years, starting in the 1940s. After he had to retire from Johns Hopkins in 1978, he and his wife moved to Virginia. There, they worked with the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). Dr. Jones officially retired in the 1990s, but he kept writing and visiting EVMS until shortly before he passed away.
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Early Life and Education
Howard W. Jones was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 30, 1910. His father was also a doctor. When Howard was a child, he sometimes went with his father to visit patients. This gave him an early look at what a doctor's life was like.
When he was 13, his father died. After that, his mother sent him to a private school. He later went to Amherst College, where he earned his first degree in 1931. Then, he studied medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, graduating in 1935.
After medical school, Dr. Jones trained to become a surgeon. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army. He led a special surgical team that helped soldiers. After the war, he decided to train again, this time to become a specialist in women's health.
Medical Career and Discoveries
In 1948, Dr. Jones and his wife started working part-time at Johns Hopkins.
The Story of HeLa Cells
In 1951, Dr. Jones was the first doctor to treat a woman named Henrietta Lacks for cancer at Johns Hopkins. He took a small piece of her tumor. He sent this sample to other scientists in the lab.
What happened next was amazing: these cells, later called HeLa cells, grew incredibly fast in the lab. Scientists around the world bought and used them for many different studies. Research with HeLa cells led to huge medical breakthroughs. For example, they helped create vaccines for diseases like polio and human papillomavirus.
Later, there was a discussion because Henrietta Lacks and her family did not know her cells were being used for research. Dr. Jones's part in this story is told in the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Pioneering "Test Tube Babies"
In 1960, Dr. Jones and his wife began working full-time at Johns Hopkins. In the 1960s, Dr. Jones worked with Robert Edwards. Dr. Edwards later helped create the world's first "test tube baby."
In 1978, Dr. Jones had to retire from Johns Hopkins because of their age rules. He and his wife then moved to Virginia. They started the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine at the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS).
At EVMS, they created a special program. This program led to the birth of Elizabeth Jordan Carr in 1981. She was the first "test tube baby" born in the United States! Before this success, their clinic had 41 attempts that did not work.
Later Years and Recognition
In the late 1990s, Dr. Jones's wife developed Alzheimer's disease. He officially retired from his institute to care for her. However, even in 2013, he still spent a few hours each day at EVMS. He was even writing his twelfth book!
In 2012, Dr. Jones successfully convinced lawmakers in Virginia to stop a bill. This bill would have said that life begins at the moment of conception. Dr. Jones argued that this would make it harder to treat people who had trouble having children.
Dr. Jones received many awards for his work. He got a Distinguished Service Award from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In 1986, he was made a special member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In 1997, both Dr. Jones and his wife received Distinguished Alumnus Awards from Johns Hopkins University.
Personal Life
In 2011, Dr. Jones wrote an article about how he lived such a long life. He said he was lucky with his genes. He also felt that his career and family life were very enjoyable and rewarding. He believed this helped him live longer.
Dr. Jones was married for 64 years. His wife passed away in 2005. They had two children. Their son, Howard Jones, III, became a leader in women's health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Their daughter, Georgeanna Jones Klingensmith, is a children's hormone specialist in Denver.
Death
Dr. Howard W. Jones died on July 31, 2015. He was 104 years old. He passed away from breathing problems after being in the hospital for two weeks.
Images for kids
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Jones in a 2010 interview
