Rock, John, 1890-1984

John Charles Rock (March 24, 1890 – December 4, 1984) was an American obstetrician and gynecologist. He is best known for the major role he played in the development of the first birth control pill. He was the founder of the Rock Reproductive Study Center at the Free Hospital for Women in Brookline, Massachusetts and a Clinical Professor of Gynecology at Harvard Medical School. He was appointed director of the Sterility Clinic at the Free Hospital for Women and would hold this position for thirty more years. Rock was a known scientist, obstetrician, and gynecologist, but he was also an author who wrote a few books after he discovered the contraceptive pill. Before discovering the first contraceptive method, he did not express an interest in pharmacology. Rock was also a pioneer in in vitro fertilization and sperm freezing. He helped many of his patients achieve pregnancy and became known as a "ground-breaking infertility specialist".