Significant Events on December 9
Birth of Ida S. Scudder
On December 9, 1870, American medical missionary Ida S. Scudder was born. She is renowned for her efforts in combating diseases such as bubonic plague, cholera, and leprosy. Additionally, she founded one of Asia’s first teaching hospitals.
Birth of Dimitrios Trichopoulos
Greek epidemiologist, oncologist, and academic Dimitrios Trichopoulos was born on December 9, 1938. He served as a professor at Harvard, where he focused on research and lectures concerning cancer prevention and prevalence.
Eradication of Smallpox
On December 9, 1979, a historic milestone in medicine was achieved with the complete eradication of the smallpox virus. This event marked the first and only human disease to be driven to extinction.