January 26, 2013
JANET TRAVELL BECAME JFK'S PERSONAL PHYSICIAN 52 YEARS AGO TODAY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 52 years ago today, on January 26, 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Dr. Janet Travell* as his personal physician making her the 1st woman in history to hold that position.
JFK Library Image
JFK Library Image
Dr. Travell, however, as an orthopedist, worked with JFK for five years prior to her appointment as White House physician.
She prescribed medications & varieties of treatment including orthopedic shoes, a back brace & use of rocking chairs to relieve Mr. Kennedy's back pain.
According to the New York Times, Dr. Travell...
"believed that a rocking chair alleviated lower-back tension by keeping the muscles moving."
The Times added....
"Throughout his brief Presidency, Kennedy's oak rocker with cane seat was a familiar sight..."
P&P Rocking Chair
Asheboro, North Carolina**
SOURCE
"Janet Travell, 95, Pain Specialist & Kennedy's Personal Doctor," by David Stout, New York Times, August 3, 1997.
www.nytimes.com
*Janet Travell, MD (1901-1997), born in NY City, attended Wellesley College & Cornell University Medical College (graduated 1926).
Dr. Travell's research produced technology for the treatment of back spasms & she was consulted by JFK's orthopedic surgeon in the treatment of the future president's back pain.
After living in Washington, D.C. 35 years, she moved to Massachusetts where she died at the age of 95 in 1997.
She prescribed medications & varieties of treatment including orthopedic shoes, a back brace & use of rocking chairs to relieve Mr. Kennedy's back pain.
According to the New York Times, Dr. Travell...
"believed that a rocking chair alleviated lower-back tension by keeping the muscles moving."
The Times added....
"Throughout his brief Presidency, Kennedy's oak rocker with cane seat was a familiar sight..."
P&P Rocking Chair
Asheboro, North Carolina**
SOURCE
"Janet Travell, 95, Pain Specialist & Kennedy's Personal Doctor," by David Stout, New York Times, August 3, 1997.
www.nytimes.com
*Janet Travell, MD (1901-1997), born in NY City, attended Wellesley College & Cornell University Medical College (graduated 1926).
Dr. Travell's research produced technology for the treatment of back spasms & she was consulted by JFK's orthopedic surgeon in the treatment of the future president's back pain.
After living in Washington, D.C. 35 years, she moved to Massachusetts where she died at the age of 95 in 1997.
**This is the Kennedy Rocker I recently purchased on EBAY. JFK+50 will be doing a future post on the Kennedy Rocker.
