George Richards Minot was a distinguished American physician and pioneering hematologist who made transformative contributions to medical science during the early twentieth century. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on December 2, 1885, he received his A.B. degree from Harvard University in 1908 and his medical degree in 1912, establishing the foundation for his remarkable career in clinical medicine. He served as research fellow in physiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1914 before joining the Massachusetts General Hospital where he began his seminal work on blood disorders. Minot's career included significant appointments at the Collis P. Huntington Memorial Hospital, where he became chief of medical services, and the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, culminating in his appointment as director of the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory at Boston City Hospital in 1928, a position he held until his death.
Minot's most significant scientific achievement was his pioneering work on the treatment of pernicious anemia, previously considered an invariably fatal disease. In collaboration with William P. Murphy and building upon George Whipple's research, Minot demonstrated in 1926 that a raw-liver diet could induce dramatic remission in patients suffering from this deadly condition, publishing their findings that documented successful treatment of forty-five patients. This revolutionary therapeutic approach represented one of the first effective dietary treatments for a major disease and fundamentally transformed the prognosis for countless patients worldwide. Their groundbreaking work earned Minot, Murphy, and Whipple the 1934 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, recognizing their introduction of liver therapy for pernicious anemia. This research not only saved countless lives but also paved the way for the eventual isolation of vitamin B12, the essential component in liver that combats the disease.
Beyond his Nobel-winning research, Minot made substantial contributions to understanding blood coagulation, platelet function, and the relationship between dietary deficiencies and disease, publishing over 150 scientific articles throughout his career. He conducted important research on industrial poisonings, notably investigating the anemia of TNT workers during World War I alongside Dr. Alice Hamilton. Minot's legacy extends beyond his specific discoveries as his methodical approach to clinical investigation established new standards for medical research. Despite being diagnosed with diabetes in 1921, he was able to continue his vital work after beginning insulin therapy in 1923, demonstrating remarkable dedication to medical science. His contributions to hematology and therapeutic approaches to disease continue to influence medical practice and research more than seventy years after his death on February 25, 1950.
