Kendrick, Pearl L. (1890–1980)

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Kendrick, Pearl L. (1890–1980)

American microbiologist. Name variations: Pearl Luella Kendrick. Born Aug 24, 1890, in Wheaton, IL; died Oct 1980, in Grand Rapids, MI; studied at Syracuse and Johns Hopkins universities.

Served as associate director of laboratories of the Michigan Department of Health (1920–51) and resident lecturer in epidemiology at School of Public Health of University of Michigan; with Grace Eldering, developed whooping cough vaccine; created standard diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus immunization (DPT) which greatly reduced major childhood diseases in Western world; served as consultant to WHO and UNICEF, wrote articles on contagious disease, and was fellow and vice-president of American Public Health Association. Refused publicity for PDT vaccine.