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The Beginning of Physicians in the United States
The practice of medicine in the United States began in the 1600's. Around the same time, England began to separate the practice of medicine into three categories: physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries. In England, physicians were known as the elite, often carrying collegiate degrees. Surgeons needed specific in hospital training. In Colonial America, however, physicians were not split into different roles. A physician would perform surgeries, see clinical patients, and prepare medications. -
Smallpox Vaccine
Smallpox is a disease that is extremely deadly, killing an average of 3 out of 10 people who contracted it. A doctor by the name of Edward Jenner identified that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox did not show symptoms of smallpox. From this observation, he identified the need for inoculation. -
The Medical Society of the County of New York
The Medical Society of the County of New York was founded to develop training programs aimed to standardize learning to future physicians. This was the first regulating body of its kind. Following the development of this, several other programs began to pop up around the country. The medical education established by this committee was attractive to students because it rid the community of university education and provided shorter training programs. -
The American Medical Association
In 1847 there was a convention of almost 200 delegates that represented 28 colleges from 22 states. This meeting began the first meeting of the American Medical Association. This association was created to set educational standards for medical doctors. This included the need for liberal education in arts and sciences, the completion of an apprenticeship before medical college admission, and a structured medical degree. -
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell
Dr. Blackwell was the first woman to obtain her Medical Degree from an American Medical College. Dr. Blackwell was inspired to pursue medicine after watching her best friend die and thought that if her physician had been a woman, her suffering would have been less. Dr. Blackwell faced a lot of adversity when pursuing her career. Following her medical degree completion, she opened a hospital that supported female physicians. She then went on to open a women's medical school in london. -
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler
Dr. Crumpler was the first African American woman to receive her medical doctorate in 1864. She began her career as a nurse where she wished to pursue medicine further. She worked with freed slaves after the civil war who would not have access to medical care otherwise. -
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine opened its doors in 1893. This school of medicine is known to be the first of its kind. Established after the creation of the American Medical Association, it followed the guidelines that had not been established previously. With the opening of Johns Hopkins, a role model was set for all future medical schools to come. -
The Influenza Pandemic of 1918
The influenza pandemic allowed for medical advances that have improved present-day medicine. The outbreak of influenza in 1918 resulted in more deaths than World War I and World War II combined. The research done by physicians following the influenza pandemic has created a better understanding of influenza and other viruses in general. -
Institute of Sex Research at Indiana University
The Institute of Sex Research (also known as the Kinsey Institute) was opened by Dr. Alfred Kinsey. This institute was the first to use the term transsexual in gender studies and introduced America to the concept of transgender individuals. This was one of the most important steps in creating the adequate and knowledgeable treatment of transgender individuals such as gender confirmation surgeries, hormonal replacement therapies, and psychiatric studies of these individuals. -
The Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
One of the most influential medical advancements made by physicians was the Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Dr. Robert Goetz completed the surgery on a male patient with 4 of his surgical colleagues. The patient inevitably died 13 months later, but the autopsy revealed a patent coronary bypass graft.
