Thelma Estrin

Early Life and Education

Thelma Estrin was an American computer scientist and biomedical engineer who made significant contributions to the field of medical informatics. She had a career that spanned decades.

Born Thelma Austern on February 21, 1924, in New York City, Estrin showed an early aptitude for mathematics. As a single child, she was pushed toward academics and college, a less typical route for girls of that era.

City College of New York is where Estrin began her studies in 1941 and met Gerald Estrin, her future husband. A three-month engineering assistant course at Stevens Institute of Technology during WWII led to her first job at Radio Receptor Company, an electronics manufacturer.

Pursuing Higher Education

After the war, Thelma and Gerald moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to study electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin. Thelma earned three degrees in electrical engineering — a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. — rapidly, finishing in 1951.

Professional Career and Achievements

Estrin’s career began to flourish in the early 1950s after relocating to Princeton, New Jersey with Gerald. During Gerald’s time at the Institute for Advanced Study, Thelma secured a job in the Electroencephalography Department at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, sparking her interest in biomedical engineering.

In 1954, the Estrins traveled to Israel, where they helped build the country’s first computer, the WEIZAC (Weizmann Automatic Computer). This project, an IEEE Milestone in Electrical and Computer Engineering, initiated Estrin’s noteworthy contributions to computer science.

Pioneering Work at UCLA

Estrin began working at UCLA’s Brain Research Institute in 1960, remaining there for most of her professional life. In 1961, she established and directed the Institute’s Data Processing Laboratory, holding the directorship from 1970-1980. In this period, Estrin created a pioneering system that translated the analog data from EEGs into digital format, a major breakthrough in medical technology.

Estrin’s contributions to applying computer technology in healthcare and medical research were revolutionary. Her publications on computerized brain mapping are extensive, and she was instrumental in creating EMERGE, a groundbreaking system for guiding emergency room staff in chest pain treatment.

Advocacy and Leadership

Throughout her career, Estrin was a strong advocate for women in science and engineering. She became the first woman elected to the board of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and later served as its first female vice president. Her leadership encouraged many women to seek careers in technology and engineering.

Legacy and Later Life

Thelma Estrin retired from UCLA in 1991 as a professor emerita in the Department of Computer Science. Numerous accolades, including a 1999 Women in Technology Hall of Fame induction, recognized her achievements in biomedical engineering and computer science.

Estrin passed away on February 15, 2014, in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 89. Her contributions to medical informatics and women in STEM continue to inspire, solidifying her legacy. Today, she is remembered as a pioneer who opened doors for future generations of women in science and technology.