Ingeborg Rapoport

German pediatrician and neonatologist

Ingeborg Rapoport (2 September 1912 – 23 March 2017) was a German pediatrician and neonatologist who made significant contributions to the field of neonatology. She is notable for her work in East Germany and for being the oldest person to receive a doctorate at the age of 102.

Early Life and Education

Ingeborg Rapoport was born in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, to a Jewish family. Her father was a chemist and her mother was a pianist. The family moved to Germany when she was a child. Rapoport studied medicine at the University of Hamburg, where she completed her medical studies in 1937. However, due to the Nazi regime's anti-Semitic laws, she was denied the opportunity to defend her doctoral thesis.

Career in the United States

In 1938, Rapoport emigrated to the United States to escape the Nazi persecution. She completed her medical internship at the Women's Hospital in Philadelphia and later worked at the Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. During her time in the United States, she became interested in neonatology, a field that was still in its infancy.

Return to Germany and Work in East Germany

Ingeborg Rapoport in her later years

In 1952, Rapoport returned to Germany, settling in East Berlin. She became a professor at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, where she established the first neonatology clinic in East Germany. Her work focused on improving the care of premature infants and reducing infant mortality.

Rapoport was a member of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and was actively involved in the political and scientific community of East Germany. She contributed to the development of pediatric care and medical education in the country.

Later Life and Recognition

In 2015, at the age of 102, Rapoport was awarded her doctorate by the University of Hamburg, 77 years after she completed her thesis. This recognition came after the university reviewed her original work and acknowledged the unjust denial of her degree due to Nazi policies.

Rapoport's story gained international attention, highlighting issues of historical injustice and the resilience of individuals who faced discrimination. She passed away in 2017 at the age of 104.

Legacy

Ingeborg Rapoport is remembered for her pioneering work in neonatology and her dedication to improving pediatric care. Her life and career serve as an inspiration to many in the medical field, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and the pursuit of justice.

Related Pages

• Neonatology
• Pediatrics
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• History of medicine