John Richard Montgomery

John Richard Montgomery
Born	(1934-10-24) October 24, 1934 Burnsville, Mississippi
Residence	Huntsville, Alabama
Nationality	American
Education	BS and MD
Alma mater	University of Alabama and University of Mississippi
Occupation	Medical researcher
Years active	1966 to present
Employer	University of Alabama School of Medicine
Known for	Development of the germ-free environmental bubble
Title	Professor emeritus
Spouse(s)	Dottye Ann Newell

John Richard Montgomery is an American paediatrician and immunologist. He was an assistant professor and then associate professor of paediatrics at Baylor University between 1966 and 1975. During this time he became known for the co-development of the environmental bubble used to protect David Vetter from infection by external germs. In 1975 Montgomery became a full professor of paediatrics at University of Alabama in Huntsville, and in 1997 he became professor emeritus at the University of Alabama School of Medicine.

Early life and education

John Richard Montgomery was born on October 24, 1934 in Burnsville, Mississippi.^[1] He received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama in 1955 and an MD in 1958 from the Medical College of Alabama. He interned at the University of Mississippi from 1958 to 1959, and was a resident in paediatrics there from 1959 to 1960. From 1960 to 1961 he served as a resident in paediatrics at Baylor University, after which he joined the US military and served as the chief of Pediatrics at Seoul Military Hospital until 1963. He then returned to Baylor and from 1963 to 1964 he again served as a resident in paediatrics at Baylor University, and was a fellow in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology there in 1965.^[1]

Professorship

In 1966 Montgomery became an assistant professor of paediatrics at Baylor, and was promoted to associate professor in 1970. He remained at the college until 1975 when he became the chief of paediatric programs and full professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville medical school.^[1] In 1997 he became a professor emeritus at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, where he has continued teaching medical students and serving on advisory boards.^[2]

Research

John R. Montgomery treating David Vetter in his germ-free environmental bubble

Montgomery is best known for his assistance in the development of the first germ-free environmental bubble in the United States for newborn patients with no natural immune system.^[1] The first newborn patient to be placed in the bubble was David Vetter, who was placed in the environment soon after his birth under Montgomery's care. The technology was initially supposed to be temporary, but had to be adapted over time by the Texas Children’s Hospital Team, which also included Mary Ann South and Joseph Wilson, in order to make it more permanent, including expansion into different rooms.^[3][4]

Vetter and Montgomery were featured in a January 1977 issue of Life Magazine five years into Vetter's isolation.^[5] The patient died in 1984, and afterwards his life was the subject of a PBS American Experience documentary featuring Montgomery. The documentary featured the major points of Vetter's life and complications, including Montgomery first breaking the news of the boy’s diagnosis soon after he was born. Montgomery served as his physician until 1975 when he moved from Baylor to the University of Alabama.^[6]

He has also researched congenital rubella syndrome^[7] and transplant rejection in heart transplant patients.^[8] Montgomery has been a member of the American Association of Immunologists, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the International Experimental Hemotology Society, the Society of Paediatric Research, and the New York Academy of Sciences. He has also published more than eighty academic articles.^[9]

Personal life

Montgomery married his wife Dottye Ann Newell in June 1965.^[1]

References