History of Women Who Helped Shape America's Health

Florence Nighingale

May 12, 1812

Founder of Modern Nursing

Years of Birth

Period: Jan 1, 1820 to Jan 1, 2015

Clara Barton

Dec 25, 1821

Founder of American Red Cross

Elizabeth Blackwell

Feb 3, 1849

First Woman to Receive an M.D.

Alice Hamilton

Feb 27, 1869

First appointed to the faculty of Harvard University

Rebecca Crumpler

Feb 8, 1883

First African American to Receive M.D.

Virginia Apagar

Apr 11, 1909

Influential Obstetrical anesthesiologist

Gertrude Elion

Jan 23, 1918

Developed drug to help fight Leukemia Cancer

Nancy Wexler

Jul 19, 1945

Nancy Wexler, Ph.D. is most well-known for her research surrounding Huntington's Disease, a genetic condition that causes parts of the brain degenerate.

Sherry Turkle

May 15, 1978

For more than 30 years, psychologist and MIT professor Dr. Sherry Turkle has studied the psychology of digital interaction

Michelle Obama

Aug 31, 2009

Health and Fitness Activist