Philip Levine (physician)

Philip Levine (1900-1987) was a Russian-American physician and immunologist best known for his discovery of the Rh blood group system.

Levine was born in Kletsk, Russia (now Belarus) and immigrated to the United States as a child. He received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1923.

His research focused on blood groups and their clinical significance. In 1939, working with Rufus Stetson, he described the cause of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), also known as erythroblastosis fetalis, linking it to an antigen present on fetal red blood cells but absent in the mother. This antigen was later identified as the Rh factor.

This discovery revolutionized prenatal and neonatal care. It led to the development of Rh immunoglobulin (RhoGAM), a preventative treatment that prevents Rh-negative mothers from developing antibodies against Rh-positive fetal blood cells, thus preventing HDN in subsequent pregnancies.

Levine's work significantly improved the lives of countless mothers and babies. He received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to medicine, including the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research in 1946. He also served as the director of the Division of Immunohematology at the Ortho Research Foundation until his retirement. He is remembered as a pioneer in the field of blood banking and transfusion medicine.