Leila Alice Daughtry Denmark
Personal Information
Born: 1898
Died: 2012
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
Tift College AB 1922; Mercer University studied chemistry & physics for 2 years; Medical college of Georgia (later Georgia Health Sciences University) MD 1928
"“When I was a child, there was no such thing as a baby doctor on earth. We had very little medicine, very little surgery, no immunisations and no baby food,” she told an interviewer. “Yet the children weren’t sick like they are today because their mothers fed them right… Today, 85 per cent of children in the United States go to day care, and they are sick all the time. I’m not one to say let’s go back to the past, but there is something to be learned from that.” (smithsonianmag.com); “Every child should have a chance. Do what you can to help.” (georgiasouthern.edu); “Doing what you don’t like is work. Doing what you like is play. I have never worked a day in my life.” (georgiasouthern.edu); “When a mother asks, ‘Doctor, what makes my baby so bad?’” she was likely to answer, “Go look in the mirror. You get apples off apple trees,” Denmark told People magazine when she was 100. (latimes.com); "
— Leila Alice Daughtry Denmark
Professional Life
Field of Study: Medicine
Institution/Corporation: Henrietta Egelston Hospital (now Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degrees: Emory University (2000); Tift College (1972); Mercer University (1991); Member: American Medical Association; Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1935 Fisher Prize; 2000 honored in a resolution by Georgia General Assembly; a high school in Georgia is named after her; 1953 Atlanta's Woman of the Year; 1970 Distinguished Service Citation, Tifts College; 1980 Community Service Award, sponsored by WXIA of Atlanta; 1981 Book of golden Deeds Award, Buckhead Exchange Club of Atlanta; 1982 Citation, Citizens of Portal Georgia for Outstanding Achievement & Service (with husband, John eustace Denmark); 1989 Shining Light Award, Atlanta Gas Light Company; 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award, Atlanta Business Chronicle; 2000 Heroes, Saints & Legends Award, Wesley Woods; 2019 Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame; 1978 Distinguished Alumni Award, Georgia Southern College; 1980 Distinguished Alumni Award, Mercer University
Achievements: is credited as co-developer of the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, with support from Eli Lilly and Company, and Emory University; discussed her views on child-rearing in her book Every Child Should Have a Chance (1971); wrote a second book, with Madia Bowman, titled Dr. Denmark Said It!: Advice for Mothers from America's Most Experienced Pediatrician written in 2002;
retired at age 103 after 73 years as a pediatrician; by the time she retired she was treating grandchildren and great-grandchildren of her first patients
was 114 at the time of her death & considered a supercentenarian
was the older sister of Clyde Daughtry, who is known for shooting the only known authentic color footage of the attack on Pearl Harbor
was the first physician on staff when Henrietta Egleston Hospital, a pediatric hospital, opened on the Emory University campus
was among the first doctors to object to adults smoking cigarettes around children, and to pregnant women using drugs
believed that drinking cow's milk is harmful
recommended children and adults eat fresh fruit rather than drinking fruit juices, and drink only water
lived independently in her Cumming, Georgia home until age 106 when she moved to Athens, Georgia to live with her only child, Mary (Denmark) Hutcherson
was the third of their twelve children
grew up in a farming community
attend high school at an agricultural and mechanical school
her patients reported she could often determine exactly what was wrong with a child when they first walked into the office, just by looking at them
promoted common sense preventive medicine and therapy over pharmaceutical remedies wherever possible
ran an office out of a farmhouse near her home until her retirement in 2001
kept costs down by leaving a sign-up sheet for patients instead of hiring a receptionist and charging just $10 for the first visit and $8 for every visit thereafter
in her first book placed responsibility for a child’s health and happiness solely with the parents
believed in getting to the root causes of illness and laughter and a sense of humor were keys to long life
when she originally applied to medical she was told to become a nurse instead but she fought with the administrators until they admitted her to the medical school in 1924
enjoyed her family, going to the opera, gardening, sewing, reading, and the occasional game of golf
she made most of her own clothes
retired because her eyesight became poor but continued to give medical advice over the phone until she was 110
called her patients "little angels"