Virginia Apgar was an American obstetrical anesthetist, best known for developing the Apgar Score in 1952. This scoring system assesses the health of newborns immediately after birth, evaluating five criteria: appearance, pulse, grimace response, activity, and respiration. The Apgar Score helps medical professionals quickly determine if a newborn requires immediate medical attention. Apgar was born on June 7, 1909, in Westfield, New Jersey. She earned her medical degree from Columbia University and became the first female anesthesiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Throughout her career, she advocated for maternal and infant health, significantly impacting neonatal care.