Stern, Elizabeth (1915–1980)

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Stern, Elizabeth (1915–1980)

Canadian-American pathologist. Born Sept 19, 1915, in Cobalt, Ontario, Canada; died Aug 9, 1980, in Los Angeles, CA; m. Solomon Shankman, 1940.

Received medical degree from University of Toronto, Ontario (1939), and immigrated to US the following year; was among 1st specialists in cytopathology (study of diseased cells); published case report that linked the virus herpes simplex to cervical cancer (1963), the 1st person to link a specific virus to a specific cancer; discovered that prolonged use of birth-control pills was linked to cervical dysplasia (often a precursor of cervical cancer) and published findings in Science (1973); provided information about specific progression of cells from normal to advanced stage of cervical cancer, which made possible improved screening techniques for cervical cancer.