First lay recipient of the Trudeau Medal

On June 3, 1942, Emily Perkins Bissell received the Trudeau Medal from the National Tuberculosis Association, becoming the first lay person—that is, the first non‑physician—to be honored with this prestigious award.[2][6] Named for pioneering tuberculosis physician Edward Livingston Trudeau, the medal was typically reserved for medical professionals who had made outstanding contributions to tuberculosis research and control.

Bissell’s selection reflected nearly 35 years of tireless work since introducing Christmas Seals in 1907. As president and long‑time leader in anti‑tuberculosis organizations, she helped build a nationwide fundraising system that supported sanatoria, dispensaries, educational programs, and public health infrastructure.[2][11] Her efforts significantly raised public awareness about early diagnosis, fresh‑air treatment, and community responsibility in combating "consumption," a disease that was still a leading cause of death well into the early 20th century.[1][6]

This 1942 award was historically significant for several reasons. First, it recognized that effective disease control depends not only on clinical expertise but also on social mobilization and philanthropy—domains where women volunteers and social workers like Bissell played central roles. Second, by honoring a woman lay activist alongside physicians, the National Tuberculosis Association publicly validated women’s leadership in health policy and fundraising at a time when formal medical institutions remained male‑dominated.[2][10] Finally, the Trudeau Medal capped Bissell’s career, symbolizing the institutionalization of practices she helped pioneer: mass micro‑donations through Christmas Seals and community‑based anti‑tuberculosis campaigns that would later evolve into the work of the American Lung Association.