Jack Bowman: Winnipeg's Contributions to the Treatment and Prevention of Rhesus Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn

Jack Bowman (1925-2005) was a Canadian pediatrician who was on the staff of the Winnipeg Children's Hospital. He was trained by Bruce Chown who had started the Rhesus (Rh) hemolytic disease of the Newborn program and in due course succeeded Chown as director of the program. Jack began as one of the three pediatricians (including his twin Bill) who performed exchange transfusions on the affected infants. In due course with his colleague in obstetrics, he was the first in North America to perform intrauterine transfusions for the babies at risk of stillbirth. He was a leader in the prevention of Rh disease by the administration of anti-Rh immunoglobulin to the Rh-negative mothers and established that this could be done safely and effectively during pregnancy. He introduced to North America the column fractionation method of preparing the immunoglobulin that produced a higher yield of a purer product that could be given intravenously. Jack Bowman successfully combined research with clinical practice throughout his career.