Edwards Albert Park

Park, a director of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins, was born in Gloversville, New York. He earned his A.B. from Yale University in 1900 and his M.D. from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1905.

In 1912, John Howland, then head of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins, invited Park to join the faculty. Park served on the medical faculty until 1921, when he left to found the department of pediatrics at the Yale University School of Medicine.

Park returned to Johns Hopkins in 1927 to become professor of pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief of the Harriet Lane Home. He remained at Johns Hopkins until his retirement in 1946, creating divisions of cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, and psychiatry within the department of pediatrics. Park pioneered a holistic approach to the medical care of children, combining it with intense research, training, and community outreach. He is credited with discovering that Vitamin D prevents rickets, and also made major research contributions in studies of lead poisoning.