Elizabeth Blackwell Elizabeth Blackwell First American Female PhysicianFirst American Female Physician

June 20, 2007June 20, 2007

No financial disclosures.No financial disclosures.

Learning GoalsLearning Goals

1.1. Recognize that Elizabeth Blackwell was Recognize that Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman physician in the United the first woman physician in the United States of AmericaStates of America

““Medicine is so broad a field, so closely Medicine is so broad a field, so closely interwoven with general interests, dealing as it interwoven with general interests, dealing as it does with all ages, sexes and classes, and yet does with all ages, sexes and classes, and yet of so personal a character in it’s individual of so personal a character in it’s individual appreciations, that it must be regarded as one appreciations, that it must be regarded as one of those great departments of work in which the of those great departments of work in which the cooperation of men and women is needed to cooperation of men and women is needed to fulfill all its requirements.”fulfill all its requirements.”

-Elizabeth Blackwell-Elizabeth Blackwell

Her childhood and early lifeHer childhood and early life

Her medical educationHer medical education

Geneva Medical College, founded in 1835 New York State(Geneva Historical Society)

Major AccomplishmentsMajor Accomplishments

January 11, 1849-First woman to earn a medical January 11, 1849-First woman to earn a medical degree in the United Statesdegree in the United States

1857-Founded the New York Infirmary for 1857-Founded the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and ChildrenIndigent Women and Children

1861-Trained nurses for the American Civil War. 1861-Trained nurses for the American Civil War. A contemporary of Florence Nightingale. A contemporary of Florence Nightingale.

1868-Founded a Women’s Medical College at 1868-Founded a Women’s Medical College at the New York Infirmary to train Women doctors.the New York Infirmary to train Women doctors.

1874-75-Helped open the Women’s Medical 1874-75-Helped open the Women’s Medical College in London, England.College in London, England.

Major Accomplishments, cont’dMajor Accomplishments, cont’d

1875-taught at the London School of 1875-taught at the London School of Medicine for Women.Medicine for Women.

1859-First female physician and doctor in 1859-First female physician and doctor in the UK Medical Register.the UK Medical Register.

Inspired Elizabeth Garrett Anderson to Inspired Elizabeth Garrett Anderson to become Britain’s first woman doctor.become Britain’s first woman doctor.

Active in the anti-slavery movementActive in the anti-slavery movement 1895-Published 1895-Published PioneerPioneer WorkWork inin OpeningOpening

thethe MedicalMedical ProfessionProfession toto WomenWomen..

Elizabeth Blackwell died on May 31, 1910, six Elizabeth Blackwell died on May 31, 1910, six days after suffering a stroke, at the age of 89.days after suffering a stroke, at the age of 89.

Women physicians everywhere owe a Women physicians everywhere owe a debt of gratitude to Elizabeth Blackwell for debt of gratitude to Elizabeth Blackwell for opening up the field and practice of opening up the field and practice of medicine to women.medicine to women.

““I think we are really happy in I think we are really happy in this medical movement. We this medical movement. We must have acted at the right must have acted at the right time, for how seldom it is, that time, for how seldom it is, that those who are privileged to those who are privileged to initiate an important reform initiate an important reform see such wonderful results see such wonderful results from the effort during their from the effort during their lifetime.”lifetime.”

-Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D.-Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D.Elizabeth Blackwell, aged 38.Elizabeth Blackwell, aged 38.Pencil drawing by Pencil drawing by Comptesse de CharnaceeComptesse de CharnaceeGlasgow University ArchivesGlasgow University Archives

1.1. Boyd, Julia. Boyd, Julia. The Excellent Doctor The Excellent Doctor Blackwell: The Life of the First Female Blackwell: The Life of the First Female PhysicianPhysician, Sutton Publishing, Thrupp, , Sutton Publishing, Thrupp, England, 2005.England, 2005.

ReferencesReferences

I would like to thank Patty Boyle for the I would like to thank Patty Boyle for the help in producing this presentation.help in producing this presentation.