Mary: Autopsies Save Lives

Early in the pandemic, when little was known about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, neuropathologist Mary Fowkes, MD, PhD, volunteered to perform autopsies on COVID-19 victims. Wearing a full-body protective suit and often working alone, she painstakingly examined the virus’s impact on the brain. What she and her team found shocked her—significant blood clots in the brain and vital organs. The discovery led to the increased use of blood thinners in COVID-19 patients. In this episode, Dr. Fowkes tells her COVID-19 story and explains why autopsies are so important.

Dr. Fowkes died on Nov. 15, 2020 of an acute heart attack. An autopsy did not reveal the presence of COVID-19.

Links

• Mount Sinai Analysis of COVID-19 Autopsies Reveals Many Details About This Disease 
• Pathology Clinical Services
• Neuropathology Fellowship at The Mount Sinai Hospital
• Dr. Fowkes' obituary in the New York Times and The Lancet