Henrietta Banting

Henrietta Elizabeth Banting or "Lady Banting" (March 4, 1912 – July 26, 1976) was a Canadian physician and the second wife of Sir Frederick Banting, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his co-discovery of insulin and its therapeutic potential. Banting was the Director of Women's College Hospital's Cancer Detection Clinic from 1958-1971. She later enrolled in Mount Allison University and graduated in 1932 with a BA in Biology. After her graduation she spent several years in New Brunswick conducting clinical laboratory work in various hospitals. She then moved to Toronto to attend the University of Toronto's Banting Institute, earning a master's degree in Medical Research in 1937. In 1951, she travelled back to Canada. This study was recognized as one of the first Canadian papers on mammography. Furthermore, because of this study, Women's College Hospital became the first hospital to use mammography as a routine screening tool for breast cancer in Ontario.

Personal life Henrietta married Sir Frederick Banting in 1937 and became known as Lady Banting. Sir Frederick Banting died "while on active duty with the Canadian military in 1941".

According to a biography, her hobbies included: gardening, antique furniture and interior decorating.

Retirement and legacy

Banting retired as the Director of the Cancer Detection Clinic in 1971. She died on July 26, 1976, and was buried with Frederick at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. In honour of her memory the hospital established the Henrietta Banting Breast Centre. The Henrietta Banting Memorial Fund was also established to support "a lectureship and project related to the Henrietta Banting Breast Centre at WCH and to obstetrics, gynaecology and neonatology, also interests of Banting".

Memberships Banting was a member of several organizations, including: The Medical Women's International Association where she was the vice president and the Canadian Cancer Society where she was "the first Chairman of the National Service to Patients Committee".