Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in America to complete medical school and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. She was born on
On or near the 3rd of February 1821. Her family and she immigrated to the United States at age 11 in order to live a better, more prosperous life.
Public and other people were shocked by her achievements and goals. She was discouraged by many and rejected from some medical schools. But she persevered and worked day and night to reach this goal, which could change the future in medicine. She graduated from the Geneva Medical College, and was the first woman in history to do so. She also showed a strong independence and only worked towards one priority. She was given other options – including higher salaries – but chose not to pursue any that were outside of the medical profession. Elizabeth Blackwell, despite working very hard to gain admission to a medical university, had to team up with male doctors to achieve her goal. The public’s criticism and the faculty were initially a concern for Elizabeth Blackwell. She was then able to graduate with the full respect of both her peers as well as the professors.
She began to actively work for the spread of the medical word to the public after graduating. Her life was filled with many activities. She opened a clinic called the New York Dispensary for Women and Children in New York City. With the help of her family and others, she also established the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children. In 1860, she founded a medical institute for women to help spread the knowledge of medicine. Not only was she the first woman doctor, but she also believed that sanitation was a vital aspect of good health. This is why she was instrumental in establishing the U.S. Sanitary Commission. She moved back to England where she worked as a professor and then retired.
Elizabeth Blackwell’s biography is an excellent lesson. Women were still seen as much inferior in mid-1800s. Women were not thought to be intelligent as their main job was to take care of the house and children, if any. Elizabeth Blackwell proves that hard work can make anything possible. In the past, it was impossible for a female to pursue a career in medicine or become a doctor. But she succeeded as did many women in her generation. The book/biography I read was extremely informative as to why there were so many women doctors in this generation. Its lesson is invaluable. The world would have been very different if Elizabeth Blackwell had not become the first female doctor.
