Cardiol Young 2008; Page
1 of 8
© Cambridge University
Press
ISSN 1047-9511
doi:10.1017/S1047951108003053
Historical Vignette: Clifton Briggs Leech: First Director
of the Pediatric Cardiac Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Harriet Lane Home for
Invalid Children
Author
William N Evans, MD
Source
ChildrenŐs Heart Center Nevada, 3006 S Maryland Pkwy, Ste 690,
Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA.
E-mail: WNevans50@aol.com.
Abstract
The history of Helen Taussig is well known. Contrary to popular
belief, however, she was not the first director of the pediatric cardiology
clinic at the Harriet Lane Home for Invalid Children. She was second director,
succeeding Clifton B. Leech. Edwards A. Park, Chief of Pediatrics at Johns
Hopkins, appointed Leech the first director of the pediatric cardiac clinic in
the fall of 1928. In this vignette, I summarize the contributions of Clifton
Leech to the development of pediatric cardiology.