Thelma Estrin, biomedical engineer: a pioneer of applied computing

An account is given of the career of Thelma Estrin. Estrin entered engineering because of the urgent need for workers in the defense industries during World War II. After earning a Ph.D degree in electrical engineering in 1951, she worked in medical electronics (mainly electroencephalography) and on the design and construction of a digital computer (the WEIZAC). In 1960 she began a long association with UCLA's Brain Research Institute, where she organized and directed the Data Processing Laboratory. Estrin pioneered in the application of computers to biomedical research-especially in the areas of data acquisition and graphic display-and health-care delivery. In addition, she has done much to increase the number of women in engineering, both by direct efforts to assist others and by providing a role model.<
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