Barbara Friedman Mishkin

Barbara F. Mishkin, 85, of Bethesda, Md. died on January 7, 2022. She is survived by her four children: Diane S. Thaler, of Bethesda, Md., Paul S. Thaler (Melinda), of Washington, D.C., David E. Thaler (Tania Unsworth), of Boston, MA, and Amy S. Thaler, of Bethesda, Md.; two stepdaughters: Wendy Mishkin, N. Bethesda, Md., and Susan (Charles) Wheatley, of Pequea, PA; five grandchildren: Rachel L. Feeney (James) of Springfield, VA, Daniel M. Thaler, of Arlington, VA, Oscar J.M. Thaler, of Boston, MA, Joseph Ridley Thaler, of Boston, MA; and Blythe M. Windle, of Bethesda, Md.; one great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn M. Feeney, of Springfield, VA; and one sister, Joan Seymour, of Southbury, CT. Ms. Mishkin’s beloved husband of 50 years, Mortimer Mishkin, died just three months ago.

Ms. Mishkin was a life-long, fourth generation Washingtonian. She graduated from Sidwell Friends School, received her A.B. from Mount Holyoke College (cum laude), M.A. from Yale University, and a J.D. from American University (cum laude), Washington College of Law. Ms. Mishkin began her career as a bioethicist, working at NICHD, the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (Assistant Director), where she helped draft the Belmont Report, which has become the touchstone of research ethics in the United States, and assisted in the drafting of what have become federal regulations governing Institutional Review Boards. She later served as Director of the Ethics Advisory Board (HHS) and then as Deputy Director of the President’s Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research. She became the pre-eminent voice in the protection of human subjects in biomedical research and Institutional Review Boards in the United States.

Ms. Mishkin obtained her JD (attending school at night) while working for the government and then joined Hogan & Hartson’s Washington, D.C. office where she enjoyed a successful career as a lawyer continuing to advise universities and hospitals throughout the country. She received the D.C. Bar’s Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award in 1985 and contributed to the broader DC community by providing guidance to, among others, the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington and the Bon Secours Health System.

Barbara loved poetry (especially AA Milne), her dog Lily, and her annual trips to Bar Harbor, ME. She was courageous and brave to the end.

Due to COVID, Ms. Mishkin will be buried in a private ceremony with a celebration of her life on March 19th at 1 pm (reception to follow). In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org .