Roland Pattillo facts for kids
Roland A. Pattillo (born June 12, 1933 – died May 3, 2023) was an American doctor and scientist. He is well-known for his work with HeLa cells. These important cells came from a woman named Henrietta Lacks. Dr. Pattillo also had a special connection with Henrietta Lacks' family.
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Early Life and Education
Roland Pattillo grew up in the 1930s in Louisiana. At that time, many towns in the United States had separate areas for different races. His father worked as a blacksmith and later for the railroad.
Dr. Pattillo went to Xavier University of Louisiana and earned his first degree. He then received a scholarship to attend medical school. He studied at St Louis University under important scientists like Edward Adelbert Doisy and George Gey. Dr. Pattillo passed away on May 3, 2023, when he was 89 years old.
Medical Career and Research
Dr. Pattillo's work as a doctor and researcher was greatly influenced by the story of Henrietta Lacks. After Henrietta Lacks passed away, Dr. Pattillo bought the headstone for her grave. He became very close to her family. He often helped them connect with many scientists and reporters who wanted to learn more.
Dr. Pattillo became a practicing doctor and a professor of gynecology. He taught at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Later, he took over a special bank of reproductive cells from Dr. George Gey. He moved this cell bank from Johns Hopkins to the Morehouse School of Medicine.
Leading the OB/GYN Department
From 1996 to 1998, Dr. Pattillo served as the temporary head of the OB/GYN department at Morehouse. He also started hosting a women's health conference there. This event, called the HeLa Conference, honored the Lacks family.
Important Discoveries
Dr. Pattillo wrote over 100 articles for science journals and chapters for books. He also wrote one book. His research focused on studying cells in labs. He looked for special signs in cells that helped scientists understand how hormones work. His work also showed how cells react to cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
His research led to a big discovery. He was the first to find a special type of stem cell called a trophoblast stem cell. He also created the first human cell system that could make hormones. Scientists around the world could use this system. It helped them find new ways to treat ovarian cancer.
Dr. Pattillo retired from Morehouse in 2013. He had worked at the school for 20 years.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Dr. Pattillo received many awards:
- 2003: Medallion of the International Trophoblast Society
- Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
- Pioneer Award from the National Institute of Health for Frontiers in Stem Cell research
- 2009: St. Louis University Diversity Award – Keynote Speaker
- 2009: St. Louis University School of Medicine Merit Award
- 2009: America's Top Doctor's List, Atlanta Magazine
Legacy
In 2017, a movie called The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was made. In this movie, the actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson played the role of Dr. Roland Pattillo.
