Elizabeth Blackwell was The First Woman Doctor in the United States. She was admitted in 1848 to Geneva Medical College of New York as a fluke. The faculty thought the application was a practical joke by a rival school.Blackwell graduated at the head of her class.
Her sister, Emily Blackwell, had more of a challenge getting accepted into a program. She eventually completed her medical studies at Case Western Reserve University and went on to become a doctor as well.
Blackwell went to Paris to get clinical experience in the care and treatment of women (gynecology) especially the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth (obstetrics).
She then returned to the United States to not be able to find a job. So she, her sister, and another woman doctor - Marie Zakrewska; opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children.
In late 1860s, The Blackwell sisters founded the Women's Medical College in New York City to advance women's opportunity in the medical field.
Today MORE than 30% of the US Doctors are Female.
I almost became one of the few women in neurosurgery and decided against it after an interview. Elizabeth Blackwell must have character, strength, and tenacity like no one out there. I have the guts but not the energy to fight and fight and fight, like she must have. I thank God for making people like her with courage, energy, will power, and the smarts for plowing a road where there was none. May there be more women nurtured to be like her and may we all support them if we can't do it ourselves.
ReplyDeleteGreat input - thanks
ReplyDelete"Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail their failure must be but a challenge to others."
~ Amelia Earhart