Although her scoring system is familiar to all doctors, that Virginia Apgar was an obstetric anaesthesiologist is less widely known. The score that bears her name appeared in “Anaesthesia and Analgesia” exactly 50 years ago. It mandated neonatal assessments that can be done anywhere, with minimal training, at one and five minutes after delivery.

It is impossible to quantify the morbidity and mortality so far prevented by this simple standard. Accolades Prof Apgar received in 1973 included Medals from the American Society of Anaesthesiologists and the Alumniof Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Ladies Home Journal “Women in Science” award. One wonders which is more prestigious!

Perhaps a meaningful way for medical practitioners to remember her is in the form of a “backronym”.“Activity, Pulse, Grimace, Appearance and Respiration” is a useful mnemonic which elegantly incorporates Apgar’s name. Of role models it is said that “if you can’t see it, you can’t be it”. Irish-based anaesthesia trainees have a diversity of illustrious predecessors, many of whom remain alive, well and even practicing. But, globally, the role model par excellence is surely Prof Apgar, and it seems appropriate to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of her landmark paper.