Kate Isabel Campbell

Dame Kate Isabel Campbell (22 April 1899 – 12 July 1986) was a noted Australian physician and paediatrician. Campbell's discovery, that blindness in premature babies was caused by high concentrations of oxygen, resulted in the alteration of the treatment of premature babies world-wide and for this she received global recognition.

Biography Family Born in Hawthorn, Melbourne to Scottish-born Donald Campbell, a clerk, and his wife, New Zealand-born Janet Duncan (née Mill), a former school teacher. Campbell was the third of four siblings. Her youngest brother Donald was the barrister who defended Frank Hardy in the Power without Glory trial.

Education Despite Campbell's parents' appreciation for an education, the family's low financial situation meant her elder two brothers left school early. Campbell attended the Manningtree Road Primary School and while attending she was awarded a Junior Program Government Scholarship to the Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne. Later in 1917, she was provided a Senior Government Scholarship which enabled her to continue further studies at the University of Melbourne. Campbell completed her MBBS in 1922 and her MD in 1924. She graduated from medical school with figures including Jean Macnamara, Lucy Meredith Bryce, Jean Littlejohn, Frank Macfarlane Burnet, Rupert Willis and George Simpson. Melbourne.

Affiliations Honorary fellow (1961) of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. First female president (1965–66) of the Australian Paediatric Association. Member of the Lyceum Club. She died at Camberwell, Melbourne and was cremated. The Royal Women's Hospital executive medical staff and staff of the University's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology donated £500 in 1961 for the Dr Kate Campbell Prize in Neonatal Paediatrics. This was awarded to a final year medical student for excellence in the subject.