Today, I am thankful for those pioneers that break down barriers.
How sobering is to realize that it wasn’t too distant in the past that women had little, to no, role in the practice of medicine. In fact, it wasn’t until this day (Jan 23) in 1849, when Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the US. In 1847, Elizabeth zealously pursued a medical degree. She applied to all 29 US medical schools at the time. Sadly, 28 schools rejected her, including one school that brazenly informed her that they would only consider her application if she was willing to attend disguised as a man. Gratefully, Geneva Medical School (now Hobart College), agreed to her admission. Over the next 2 years, Elizabeth successfully matriculated her medical studies. In 1849, she graduated as the valedictorian of her medical school class.
It wasn’t any easier for Dr. Blackwell thereafter. In fact, when she opened her practice in NYC years later, patients didn’t naturally materialize due to the social biases of seeing a female physician. So, she tore down the walls again by opening up her own medical school for women. In fact, it was not until the turn of the 20th Century that medical schools for women would close, as major universities began accepting women to their own medical schools.
Today, there’s still work to be done, as only 33% of practicing US physicians are women. Yet, in 2017, for the first time, more women (51%) than men (49%) were newly enrolled in US medical schools.
Pioneers like Dr. Blackwell broke down walls and paved a path for others to follow suit. We owe folks like her an immense gratitude for leading the way.
Comments