Clara Maass

Heroic nurse whose sacrifice advanced yellow fever research and medical ethics.

Clara Maass (1876–1901) was a nurse whose participation in yellow fever experiments in Cuba led to groundbreaking discoveries. After volunteering for medical trials, she succumbed to the disease, proving mosquitoes transmitted the virus. Her death spurred ethical reforms in human research.

Maass worked in the Spanish-American War, treating soldiers in Florida and the Philippines. Her dedication to evidence-based care challenged gender norms in medicine. Today, Clara Maass Medical Center in New Jersey honors her legacy, and she remains a symbol of courage in public health.