Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein (1926–2009)

"I have felt, and still feel, that there is no more worthy endeavor than to serve the country, its people, and the science which has given me so much joy.”
—Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1926, Kirschstein was the daughter of immigrant parents. Her father was a Jewish, Russian chemist who inspired in her an interest in science and a love of music. She received her B.A. magna cum laude from Long Island University in 1947 and her M.D. from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1951.

She researched cancer viruses early in her career, and then live-virus vaccines: polio vaccine, measles vaccine, and rubella vaccine (ADD LINKS TO THESE PAGES). An authority on infectious neuropathology of monkeys, she received the DHEW Superior Service Award in 1971 for her contributions in developing monkey safety tests to live viral vaccines and for research on viral oncogenesis.

Dr. Kirschstein became Chief of the Laboratory of Pathology in 1961. She was promoted to Assistant Director of DBS in 1972. When DBS moved administratively to the FDA, Dr. Kirschstein became the Deputy Director of what was then called the Bureau of Biologics.

She was the first woman at NIH to head a NIH Institute. She was the Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) from 1974 until 1993. In 1993 she became acting Director of NIH, the first female to fill this role. In 2000, she again became acting Director.

Dr. Kirschstein worked in Building 29, Rooms 209, 512, and 516 during her time with Biologics.

Three scientists in a laboratory looking at bottles of solution. The man on the left is holding up a bottle, a woman and a man are seated to the right. All are wearing white lab coats.

Dr. Samuel Baron (left), Dr. Ruth Kirschstein (center), and unidentified man (right). Photo Credit: Always There publication.

Dr. Ruth Kirschstein with curled hair wearing a pearl necklace and a collared white shirt

Dr. Ruth Kirschstein National Library of Medicine

Dr. Kirschstein's Own Reflections

NIH Oral History Interviews:
- Interview date: September 21, 1988
- Interview date: October 29, 1998
- Interview date: November 10, 1998
- Interview date: February 2, 1999
- Interview date: March 17, 1999
- Interview date: April 15, 1999
- Interview date: June 10, 1999
- Interview date: August 16, 1999
- Interview date: January 17, 2008

NIH Publications

ADD NIH Record Articles? Things she published under NIH might be too many?
Always There: The Remarkable Life of Ruth Lillian Kirschstein, M.D., 2011 (PDF, 9,243 kB)

Image Gallery

Photo of Award goes here

Ruth Kirschstein's copy of the book Anatomy of the Nervous System. Light green book cover with her name and Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, Louisiana written on the inside cover of the book.

Ruth L. Kirschstein's Copy of Anatomy of the Nervous System by Stephen Ransom from her time at Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana

A female scientist, Dr. Ruth Kirschstein, is seated in a white lab coat and looks through a bacteria colony counter.

A photo of Dr. Kirschstein looking through a bacteria colony counter Courtesy of the Always There publication