Erin DeLong

Walter Reed - chances are, you are familiar with his name only because you have heard of the major army medical center named after him. Maybe you have heard of his name in general references related to yellow fever. Either way, there is so much more to this humble, hard-working man than most know. He wore many hats, and husband, father, military officer, scientist, and doctor are just a few. His scientific achievements are benefiting humanity today. Walter Reed had humble beginnings but his intelligence and perseverance allowed him to excel in life. He received his Doctor of Medicine in 1869 and remains the youngest person to graduate from the University of Virginia Medical School to this day. After his graduation, he studied further and received a second degree from Bellevue Hospital Medical College. After briefly working in New York, Dr. Walter Reed then decided to join the Medical Corp in the United States Army. Throughout his military career he would be stationed in many different locations, including, New York, Arizona, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Alabama. The first part of his military career was spent on the frontier treating a variety of patients and illnesses. The latter half of his career was spent in Washington DC doing research, teaching classes, and learning of new medical advances. His most significant work was done with the US Army Yellow Fever Commission. Along with other fellow physicians and scientists, Dr. Walter Reed was able to unravel the scourge, yellow fever that had been a mystery since the fifteenth century. Learn all the amazing details of his life and his profound work in the book, “Dr. Walter Reed – A Short Biography”.