Betty Hay

Elizabeth Dexter "Betty" Hay
Betty Hay in her new laboratory at Harvard Medical School in 1960
Born	(1927-04-02)April 2, 1927 Melbourne, Florida
Died	August 20, 2007(2007-08-20) (aged 80) Wayland, Massachusetts
Citizenship	American
Fields	Cell biology; developmental biology
Institutions	Anatomy Department at Johns Hopkins, Anatomy Department at Cornell Medical College, Professorship of Embryology at Harvard Medical School, Chair of the Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology at Harvard Medical School, president of American Association of Anatomists(1981-1982), American Society for Cell Biology(1976-1977), and Society for Developmental Biology (1973-1974)
Alma mater	Smith College, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Academic advisors	S. Meryl Rose
Known for	investigations on limb regeneration, the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT), and the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cell differentiation
Influences	Don Fawcett, S. Meryl Rose
Notable awards	election to the National Academy of Sciences; the Centennial Award (AAA); the E.B. Wilson Medal (American Society for Cell Biology); Excellence in Science Award (FASEB); and the Henry Gray Award (AAA)

Elizabeth Dexter “Betty” Hay (April 2, 1927 – August 20, 2007) was an American cell and developmental biologist. She was best known for her research in limb regeneration, the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cell differentiation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT). Hay led many research teams in discovering new findings in these related fields, which led her to obtain several high honors and awards for her work. Hay primarily worked with amphibians during her years of limb regeneration work and then moved onto avian epithelia for research on the ECM and EMT. Hay was thrilled by the introduction of transitional electron microscopy (TEM) during her lifetime, which aided her in many of her findings throughout her career. Moreover, Hay was a huge advocate of women in science during her lifetime.

Betty Hay was born in Melbourne, Florida, on April 2, 1927, to Isaac and Lucille Elizabeth Hay. She lived with her parents, twin brother, and sister. When World War II began, her father, who was a practicing physician at the time, enlisted in the US Army Medical Corp. The family was sent to Biloxi, Mississippi. They were soon transferred to Fort Hays, Kansas, where the resided for six months before Lt. Col. Hay was deported to the Philippines. After her chaotic childhood filled with many moves and various schools, Betty attended Smith College for four years. In 1948, she graduated as summa cum laude obtaining her BA degree in Biological Sciences.

Throughout her life, Betty was always intrigued by animals. During her sophomore year at Smith College, she began research on amphibian limb regeneration with Professor S. Meryl Rose, who became Betty’s mentor and close friend. Betty also worked with Rose during the summers at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole. Betty’s love for drawing pictures of slides and dissected animals are some of the experiences that cemented her aspiration to pursue a career in biology. Rose eventually convinced Betty to pursue an MD instead of a PhD degree, as he believed it would give Betty more opportunities in the future. Betty then went on to receive an MD degree from Johns Hopkins in 1952 and was one of only four women in the graduating class.

In 1953, on short year after graduating from Johns Hopkins, Betty joined the Hopkins Anatomy Department faculty and continued her work on amphibian regeneration and embryological processes. Soon after, Betty moved to New York City to work with electron microscopists at Cornell Medical College and the Rockefeller Institute. Next, she moved to Harvard with Don Fawcett, who was one of her colleagues while at Cornell. While at Harvard she moved on from studying salamanders to focus more on the embryonic chick cornea. Betty then accepted the Louise Foote Pfeiffer Professorship of Embryology in 1969. In 1971, Betty became editor-in-chief of Developmental Biology. She continued to succeed and was elected Chairperson of Harvard’s Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology in 1975. She served in this department for 18 years. Betty finally retired from the Cell Biology department of Harvard Medical School in 2005.