Elizabeth Blackwell

          Elizabeth’s Blackwell’s story is one of great determination. She was originally born in England in 1821. When she was eleven years old, her family moved to the United States. Elizabeth’s parents strongly believed in equality for all and that all their children should be educated. At first, Elizabeth only wanted to teach. She couldn’t imagine herself becoming a physician. She hated the sight of illustrations of the human body in medical books. During Elizabeth’s teaching career, a friend of hers got sick and died. Her friend confided that if she had had a female doctor, her whole ordeal would’ve been less trying. It was then that Elizabeth was determined to be a doctor.

            Elizabeth applied to many colleges. All the colleges had rejected her, expect for Geneva Medical College in New York. She was admitted by the student body as a practical joke. They never imagined a woman would seriously consider being a doctor. Elizabeth came in with the determination to learn. She faced many challenges. She was forced to sit apart from her male peers. The townsfolk disapproved of a woman stepping out of the gender norm. Her professors were uncomfortable with a woman in their anatomy classes. During a class on reproduction, Elizabeth was asked to leave because it would be too much for a delicate woman. She stubbornly remained in the classroom. Elizabeth proved she was just as capable as her male peers, and she graduated in 1849 at the top of her class. Thus, she became the first woman in America to earn a medical degree.

            Elizabeth worked as a physician for a couple of years in London and Paris. In Paris, she was caring for a sick infant. She contracted the infection, causing her to lose sight in one eye. This was a hard blow for Elizabeth since she had wanted to become a surgeon. Now that was no longer an option. She soon returned to New York to continue improving the lives of others. She noticed that there were few opportunities for female physicians to practice. Elizabeth, her sister Emily (who also became a doctor), and Dr. Marie Zakrzewska opened the New Your Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children. Here, poor women could get the medical help they needed, while also providing jobs for female physicians. Elizabeth also founded the Woman’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary and the London School of Medicine for Women.  

            Elizabeth’s story was truly inspiring. She fought so hard for what she wanted, and she wasn’t about to let society pull her down just because she was a woman. She opened many door for women everywhere. She inspired other women to become doctors. She contributed so much, but it took a lot hard work. Sometimes it still takes a lot of hard work for a female scientist to be recognized. We’re fighters though, and the world better watch out.

Sources

“Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World,” written and illustrated by Rachael Ignotofsky

Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell: https://cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/biography_35.html

How Elizabeth Blackwell Became the First Female Doctor in the U.S.: https://cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/biography_35.html