Irene D. Long
Dr. Irene D. Long at work
Born(1950-11-16)November 16, 1950
Cleveland, Ohio
DiedAugust 4, 2020(2020-08-04) (aged 69)
EducationNorthwestern University (B.A., Biology)

Saint Louis University (MD)

Wright State University (MS, aerospace medicine)

Irene Duhart Long (November 16, 1950 – August 4, 2020[1]) was an American physician and was an official at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She was the first female chief medical officer at the Kennedy Space Center.

Early life and education

Long, the second of two children was born to Andrew and Heloweise Davis Duhart in Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from East High School in Cleveland, and in 1973, she received her bachelor's degree in biology from Northwestern University. In 1977, Long received her medical degree from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine followed by residencies at the Cleveland Clinic, Mt. Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, and Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, as the second civilian to enter the Wright State University School of Medicine's aerospace medicine program,[2] and where she received her Masters of Science degree in aerospace medicine.[3]

Career

In 1982 Long went to work for NASA as a physician.[4] There, she contributed to the creation of the Spaceflight and Life Sciences Training Program.[5] Notably, she was the medical officer on duty Jan. 28, 1986, the day of the space shuttle Challenger disaster.[6] In 1994, she was appointed director of the Biomedical Operations and Research Office at the Kennedy Space Center.[7] In 2000, she was appointed as Chief Medical Officer and associate director of Spaceport Services at the Kennedy Space Center. She retired at the age of 63 and David Tipton assumed the duties as Chief Medical Officer in 2013.[8] She worked for NASA for 31 years.

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ "Dr. Long Remembered as a Trailblazer at NASA's Kennedy Space Center". August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  2. ^ "Space Doctor, Spring 2007, Northwestern Magazine". www.northwestern.edu. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Staff (1997). "Physician of Color Highlight" (PDF). The Supplemental Instructor. 1 (March 1997): 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 26, 2003.
  4. ^ Staff (September 1984). "Dr. Irene Long: a pioneer in aerospace medicine". Ebony. 39 (9): 61–63.
  5. ^ Cawley, James (August 20, 2020). "Dr. Long Remembered as a Trailblazer at NASA's Kennedy Space Center". NASA. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "Space Doctor, Spring 2007, Northwestern Magazine". www.northwestern.edu. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  7. ^ Staff (August 1, 1994). "Irene Duhart Long, M.D. Named Director, Biomedical Operations and Research Office at the Kennedy Space Center". NASA News Release Online. NASA. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  8. ^ Siceloff, Steven (March 8, 2013). "ISS may provide clues in Alzheimer's fight" (PDF). Spaceport News. Vol. 53, no. 6. p. 10.
  9. ^ Staff (Spring 2006). "Class Notes" (PDF). Universitas. St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis University. 32 (2): 26. OCLC 37135294. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 20, 2006.
  10. ^ Staff (August 2010). "Space Medicine Association News: Other SMA Awards". ASMA News. Aerospace Medical Association. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012.

References

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