Elizabeth Blackwell - A Pioneer in the Medical Field

During her lifetime, Elizabeth Blackwell made a significant impact on the medical field. She was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, and she was the first woman to be listed as a physician on the Medical Register of the General Medical Council in the United Kingdom.

Early life

During her early life, Elizabeth Blackwell was a pioneer in the medical field in the United States. She was born in Bristol, England in 1821. She was the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree. She also founded the first women's medical school in America. Several years later, she opened a clinic in New York City that was later named the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. She was also involved in many reform movements.

Her father, Samuel Blackwell, owned a sugar refinery. As Elizabeth was growing up, her family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. She and her two older sisters became physicians. She was rejected by most medical schools, but she was accepted by Geneva Medical College in Geneva, New York.

Medical career

During her time as a doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell made a lasting impact on the medical field. She advocated for women in the medical field and paved the way for future generations of women doctors. She also helped establish the first medical school for women in England and opened a hospital in New York City.

Before she became a physician, Blackwell studied at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London. She later studied under Sir James Paget. She also studied in Paris. Her doctoral thesis focused on typhus fever.

She became involved with the National Health Society, which advocated for more women in the medical field. She also lectured about the need for women physicians. She became a friend of Florence Nightingale. Her books and lecture notes helped countless women decide to pursue a medical career.

Influence on the infirmary

During the 19th century, Elizabeth Blackwell was a medical pioneer who opened up the first women's medical college in America. She later became a prominent voice for women's rights in the medical profession. Blackwell also established the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children, which served as a training center for women physicians. It later became part of the NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.

She was also the first woman to be recognized on the British medical register. During the Civil War, Blackwell helped train nurses for the battlefield. She also helped to form the National Health Society in 1871.

Elizabeth Blackwell's legacy is still honored today. The National Institutes of Health hosts an exhibit about her life. The Upstate Medical University Health Sciences Library also has downloadable Adobe Acrobat PDF files of six of her books.

Reform movements

During her lifetime, Elizabeth Blackwell was active in a wide range of social reform movements. She contributed to the establishment of two Utopian communities. She was also the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. Her autobiography, Pioneer Work in Opening Medical Profession to Women, was published in 1895.

Blackwell was born in Bristol, England, in 1821. When she was eleven, her family moved to America. She was a third daughter of nine children. Her father, Samuel Blackwell, was an active member of the abolitionist movement and the anti-slavery movement. He also was an active dissenter. In 1832, he lost his business in a fire.

As a child, Blackwell lived with four maiden aunts. She also lived with her mother. Elizabeth's father believed that girls should receive practical education, and that girls should be free to choose a profession.

Death

Probably one of the most important women in the early days of medical science was Elizabeth Blackwell. She was a student, an English teacher and a physician. In 1856 she adopted an orphan girl Katherine Barry. The young lady proved to be a worthy daughter. During her life, Elizabeth Blackwell treated 31,657 patients. She also fought for the rights of women and children. She was one of the first female doctors in the world. She lived to be 89 and passed away on May 31, 1910.

Getting a female physician to wear the same clothes as men would be a tall order. But, thanks to Elizabeth Blackwell's intrepid spirit, a woman doctor finally made her debut in England. Interestingly, she never married. She valued independence over marriage.