-
Introduction
Women have always had a role in the advancement of medicine, but their achievements have been largely overlooked. Despite all they had to offer, they were not permitted to attend medical school until the 19th century. It is not to say that their knowledge was still nonetheless discredited after this milestone, especially for women of color—the first Black and Indigenous women did not graduate medical school until decades after the first white women did. -
The American Medical Association is formed
The American Medical Association is formed in hopes of improving medical practice and education. The creation of the association was extremely influential in facilitating the entrance of women into the medical field. -
Boston Female Medical College is established
Samuel Gregory advocated for the end of male midwifery and the inclusion of women in the obstetrics practice. His campaign resulted in the establishment of Boston Female Medical College (renamed the New England Medical College) for midwives, and in 1850, was expanded to include a full medical curriculum and grant medical degrees to women. -
First woman graduates from an American medical school
Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910) was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. However, the path was by no means easy: the one college that accepted Blackwell sent her acceptance letter as a joke. Once she was enrolled in medical school, she was required to sit away from the male students, and she was often banned from attending labs. Even with these restrictions and discrimination, Blackwell graduated at the top of her class. -
New York Infirmary for Women and Children Opens
Elizabeth Blackwell opens the infirmary with her sister Emily Blackwell and Marie Zakrzewska. -
First woman surgeon employed by the U.S. Army
Mary Edwards Walker (1832–1919) was the first American woman to become a surgeon for the U.S. army. At first, the army only let Walker volunteer as a nurse despite her training as a doctor before the Civil War, but she eventually was approved to work as a surgeon in Ohio. She was sent to prison when she was caught as a spy by Confederate soldiers. Nonetheless, she received the Medal of Honor after the war; she is the only woman to have received this award to this day. -
First Black woman graduates from medical school
Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831-1895) earned a “doctress of medicine” in 1864, making her the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S. Her further achievements include establishing a practice in Boston, treating formerly enslaved patients in Virginia, and becoming one of the first Black female doctors to publish a medical text. Her work “A Book of Medical Discourses”, published in 1883, spoke to her medical knowledge and experience treating women and young children. -
University of Michigan Medical School at Ann Arbor becomes co-educational
Following the university’s influence, other chartered medical schools, such as Johns Hopkins, also began to admit women. -
Number of female doctors surpasses 2000
At this time, there were 2432 female doctors in America, and by 1900 there were 7387. -
First Native American woman receives medical degree
Susan La Flesche Picotte (1865–1915) is considered to be the first Indigenous woman to become a doctor. She attended Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania and graduated as valedictorian—35 years before Indigenous people were even recognized as American citizens. Picotte then returned to the Omaha reservation to run medical care. Despite hardships, she continued dedicating decades to improving reservation health care and in time achieved her dream of building a hospital on the reservation. -
Marie Equi decorated by U.S. Army for humanitarian efforts
Marie Equi (1872-1952) was the only female doctor who was a part of the Oregon Doctor Train, a relief mission that responded to the 1906 San Francisco fire and earthquake. She was the leader of obstetrics at the U.S. Army General Hospital, and as a result, received recognition from the U.S. Army. She remained an activist for many more years, and was even arrested and charged with sedition during a 1919 protest. -
Sara Josephine Baker reduces NYC’s infant mortality rate
Sara Josephine Baker (1873–1945) was a critical force in the public health community. She opened a private practice in NYC in 1899 while also working as a medical examiner and inspector. Eventually, Baker was appointed director of the city’s new Bureau of Children Hygiene, where she developed programs for midwife training, basic hygiene, and preventive care. By the time she retired in 1923, NYC's infant mortality rate was drastically reduced, much lower than any other American city. -
First women admitted to the Yale School of Medicine
Louise Whitman Farnam, Helen May Scoville, and Lillian Lydia Nye, were the first women students admitted (Nye transferred to Johns Hopkins, however). Four years later, Farnam received the first medical degree awarded to a woman and graduated with honors: she won the prize for the highest rank in examinations and was selected as the commencement speaker. Farnam went on to work at the Hunan-Yale Hospital and College of Medicine in China. -