Born in Genoa, Italy, Dr. Montague was raised in Pennsylvania. She received her M.D. from the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania (now known as the Medical College of Pennsylvania) in 1950. She then spent two years in Japan, where her husband was stationed in a MASH unit, and where she also worked as a radiologist. Upon her return, she completed her residency in Radiology at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. She then began an American Cancer Society fellowship at MD Anderson’s Radiotherapy Department in 1959. Dr. Montague has been a member of the staff at MD Anderson since 1961, and became a Professor of Radiotheraphy in 1973.
Dr. Montague has authored or co-authored over 100 articles regarding the treatment of cancer. She has received many honors and awards during her career for her contribtions to the field of oncology. Some of them include: 1984 - Alumnae Achievement Award; 1984 - Past State President’s Award from the Texas Federation of Business and Professional Women; 1985 - Janeway Medal from the American Radium Society; 1986 - Gold Medal of the Radiological Society of North America; 1986 - Distinguised Service Award and Outstanding Achievement Award from MD Anderson; 1990 - Marie Curie Recipient from the American Association for Women Radiologists (AAWR); 1992 - Gold Medal for Distinguished and Extraordinary Service to the ASTRO (American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology); 1993- inducted into the Texas Women’s University’s Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. The AAWR has also honored her by naming an award after her – the Eleanor Montague Distinguished Resident Award in Radiation Oncology.
Dr. Montague was a pioneer in the field of breast cancer research and treatment. She has been an advocate of patient participation in treatment, as well as an early proponent for the combined use of surgery and radiation in the treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Montague is also a strong supporter of public health education. She retired from M.D. Anderson in 1986.
From the guide to the Eleanor Dino Montague Oral History Interview 1 OH-MontagueE-20000406., April 6, 2000, (Historical Resources Center, Research Medical Library, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center)
