|
Dr. Taber remembered for contributions to MUSC
She graduated from the University of South Carolina and obtained a master’s degree from Stanford University. After teaching biology at Greenwood High School and Lander College for five years, she undertook advanced studies at the University of Chicago where she received the Doctor of Philosophy degree and served on the faculty. In 1948, she joined the faculty of the Anatomy Department of the Medical College of South Carolina, the first woman to hold a full-time appointment in the medical school. She achieved the rank of professor in 1965 and served as interim chairman of the department from 1977 to 1979. She retired as professor emeritus in 1980. Her career included active research in the field of growth and development and reproductive endocrinology. Her research interests led to study at L’Institute d’Embryologie Experimental de College, in Paris in 1964. Her contributions to teaching at the College of Medicine included the introduction of human genetics into the basic embryology course for first year medical students. She made numerous contributions to biomedical literature and participated in many professional societies, including the American Association of Anatomists and the American Society of Zoologists. She was a charter member of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, and served as president of the South Carolina Academy of Science and on the council of the Southern Society of Anatomists. She is listed in Who’s Who of American Women, Outstanding Educators of America and American Men and Women of Science. Her scientific work brought her into contact with many distinguished scientists with whom she corresponded, both in the United States and in several foreign countries, including Australia and Japan. She received the Outstanding Alumnus Award of the University of South Carolina in 1967 and was made an honorary alumnus of the College of Medicine of the Medical University in 1980. She was elected to the medical honorary society Alpha Omega Alpha in the same year. She was also the recipient of the coveted Golden Apple Award, given by medical students for excellence in teaching. The high point is the university’s recognition which came in 1991 when she was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Her former students honored her with a lectureship, The Elsie Taber Lectureship in Human Development and a portrait which hangs in the Anatomy Department of the university where she served for so long. During the years she contributed significantly to the academic excellence of the College of Medicine. She served on numerous committees including the Curriculum Planning Committee, the Student Progress Committee, and the Admissions Committee. She also served as the chairman of the Chapel Committee when St. Timothy’s Chapel of the Porter Military Academy was obtained by the Medical College and renamed St. Luke, the physician. Her last committee assignment for the college was, the Chapel Restoration Committee which oversaw the restoration of the chapel following Hurricane Hugo. She was involved in many community activities through the years and traveled extensively both before and after her retirement. She was an excellent sailor, a recreational activity which she pursued for many years. She continued to be active in her retirement. The most significant of these activities was her extensive work on behalf of the development of the Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community. She served on its board early on, continued to participate in its activities until recently. She is survived by a brother, Stephen Taber, and several nieces and
nephews.
|
Dr.
Taber was born in Columbia, S.C., on May 3, 1915, the daughter of Dr. Stephen
Taber and Bessie Ray Taber and grew up in the academic milieu of the University
of South Carolina, where her father was professor of geology. These early
years undoubtedly influenced her choice of a career which led to distinguished
contributions to medical education, biomedical research and service to
the community.