James Herrick was the first person to intimately study and describe the inherited genetic disease of sickle-cell anemia. In addition, Herrick was the first person to successfully treat myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) with cardiotonic drugs such as digitalis. He developed the thrombogenic theory of myocardial infarction to explain the origin of such attacks, which accurately represents our basic view of the disease process even today. Dr. Herrick helped to make significant advances in the field of medicine, especially as it related to cardiovascular diseases, and is considered to be one of the most significant forefathers to the field of cardiology.

James Herrick was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Origen White Herrick and Dora Kettlestrings. Because his grandfather had homesteaded the area as an immigrant, Herrick's mother was considered to be the oldest native daughter of Oak Park. Herrick's early education was completed at the local...