Greenfield, Myrtle, 1884-1967

Myrtle Greenfield (1884-1967) was born in Sabetha, Kansas on April 8, 1884. After receiving her B.A. and M.S. concurrently from the University of Kansas in 1911, Myrtle Greenfield worked as a bacteriologist. In 1920, Greenfield left her job at the United States Public Health Service to accept the position of Director at the New Mexico Public Health Laboratory. At the time, the Laboratory was a single room in the Chemistry Department of the University of New Mexico, but under Greenfield’s supervision grew into a modern facility that processed half a million specimens a year. During her thirty-six years of service as Director, Myrtle Greenfield witnessed the New Mexico Public Health Laboratory transform from a department of one to a fully functioning facility complete with a mobile laboratory.

During her career, Myrtle Greenfield was active in numerous associations. Greenfield was a member of the American Public Health Association, Society of American Bacteriologists, and the State and National Tuberculosis Associations. Greenfield was Chair of the American Public Health Association and also served as Director for the State and National Tuberculosis Association. In 1953, Myrtle Greenfield received an Honorary Degree from the University of New Mexico. After her retirement from the New Mexico Public Health Laboratory in 1955, the newly christened Dr. Greenfield began work on her book A History of Public Health in New Mexico . Published in 1962 by the University of New Mexico Press, the book details the conception of public health in the state. Even after her retirement Greenfield remained active in public health issues and attended the annual meetings of the American Public Health Association and reported back to the department. Myrtle Greenfield died in March, 1967.

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