200 Years of Preparation

Illustrations by Courtesy of MGH Archives

Since its founding in 1811, MGH has both faced pandemics and learned from them.

DISEASE
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Progress on a Different Plague
A novel use of bacteria could blunt the spread of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.

A Better Cholera Vaccine?
Puzzling through the cholera antibody response may help slow a disease that affects millions of people every year.

The Personality Game
Character traits can influence heart health, cognitive decline and other health factors. Are people prisoners of their dispositions?
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EBOLA
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To Build a Better Vaccine
Waiting a decade or more for new vaccines may be a thing of the past, thanks to the revolution of rational vaccine design.

Down on the Pharm
A breakthrough Ebola vaccine was grown in tobacco leaves. Are genetically modified plants the future of pharmaceuticals?

An Outbreak Told in Genomes
Rapid genetic sequencing maps an Ebola outbreak in fine detail.
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HISTORY
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Diagnosis, Ep. 2: A Brief History of Diagnosis
The route to a diagnosis is straightforward in modern medicine, right? It’s anything but, according to Bedside Rounds host Adam Rodman.

Diagnosis, Ep. 1: Diagnosis, Case by Case
For a century, carefully selected MGH patient histories have illuminated the art of medicine.

Living and Dying
The 1968 Harvard criteria for brain death face new inquiries.
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MGH
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Mind the Children
To reduce burnout and retain staff, should hospitals embrace on-site childcare?

Case Records of the Massachusetts General Hospital
For nearly a century, these patient histories have illuminated and advanced the art of medicine.

Organoids Grow Up
The model tissues, barely a decade old, have become more clever and complex—and increasingly useful.
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POLIO
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Made to Be Invaded
Mini gut models give scientists a front row seat to some of the most puzzling pathogen behaviors.

Still a Scourge
After crippling millions worldwide, polio may soon be wiped out. But to the last, the virus is proving an elusive, stubborn foe.
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SMALL POX
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Should We Insist on Shots?
Massachusetts broke ground on mandatory vaccination in 1905. History may repeat itself with COVID-19.

Ending Smallpox
Deep in Central Russia and down in Atlanta are the two remaining stocks of the eradicated virus that’s killed millions—should they be destroyed?
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SPANISH FLU
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The 100 Year Shadow
Martin Hirsch explores the role of a tenacious virus and the role of “fake news” in the great epidemic of 1918.

100 Year Shadow
A century after the worst plague in history, researchers seek a universal flu vaccine to head off a repeat of the disaster.

Rehearsal for an Epidemic
A measles outbreak in 1917 inspired the blueprint for fighting the devastating Spanish flu.
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VACCINE
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The 100-Day Vaccine
COVID vaccines happened in record time. Could the next be even more rapid?

Should We Insist on Shots?
Massachusetts broke ground on mandatory vaccination in 1905. History may repeat itself with COVID-19.

Clinician Violence Moves Online
As practice goes digital, so too does a brutal workplace hazard.
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Published On November 20, 2020

1833

Isolation Wards

One of the greatest global outbreaks of cholera starts in 1831, and by 1833 it has spread to Quebec, Nova Scotia and New York. MGH doctors propose special wards to isolate patients with this and other contagious diseases. By 1849, construction begins on a standalone building—“The Brick.”

1851

Vaccination of the Vulnerable

Boston sees an outbreak of smallpox. A vaccine has been available for more than 50 years, but despite compulsory vaccination in Massachusetts, many haven’t received it. The trustees of the hospital vote that year that whenever a case occurs in the hospital, all patients should receive a fresh vaccination.

1918

A Disease Census

Accurate numbers of Spanish flu victims are critical for planning, especially on the war front in Europe. At Base Hospital No. 6, a hospital run by MGH in France, the staff epidemiologist takes a survey of troops in the area and produces daily reports on the presence of disease. This innovation gives commanders critical information that helps blunt outbreaks.

1961

The Respiratory Intensive Care Unit

During the polio outbreak of 1952 to 1955, MGH takes the unprecedented step of devoting an entire floor—the ninth floor of the White Building—to the disease. One of its hallmarks is the weakening of chest muscles, and many patients require an iron lung to breathe. Soon after, MGH creates the first unit dedicated to respiratory intensive care in the United States.

2015

Prepared for the Worst

The 2014 Ebola outbreak sees more than 11,000 deaths in Africa and a few cases make it to the United States. This highly infectious, deadly pathogen calls for a national response. MGH is designated one of only 10 regional emerging and special pathogens treatment centers in the United States, which entails a trained staff and a network of transmission protections.

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