Women’s History Month, founded in 1987, celebrates women’s contributions to history and society. It grew out of the realization that female contributions are often overlooked, despite women making major contributions to the field and shattering stereotypes along the way. Here are 5 trailblazers, both early and modern, who have played a significant role in healthcare.
Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)
- Dr. Blackwell is credited with earning the first medical degree awarded to a woman in 1849. She was initially rejected to every medical school she applied to, and when she was finally accepted to Geneva College in New York, she learned her acceptance had been meant as a practical joke.
- She persevered through bias and discrimination, and it paid off. She graduated at the top of her class and went on to open the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, ultimately founding her own medical college in New York City.
Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831-1895)
- Dr. Crumpler was the first African-American woman to earn a medical degree in the US. She worked first as a nurse before being accepted to the New England 学校 of Medicine in 1860
- She practiced in Boston and then 维吉尼亚州, teaming up with other Black physicians to provide medical care to freed slaves who didn’t have access to healthcare. Her expertise proved invaluable as she cared for a population shut out of medical care.
Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919)
- Dr. Walker was many things—abolitionist, 女权倡导者, surgeon—but perhaps is most noted for being the first female US Army surgeon in the Civil War.
- She treated soldiers on the front lines and often crossed those lines to care for “enemy” soldiers and civilians in need of medical attention. She received the Medal of Honor from President Andrew Johnson for her war work.
弗吉尼亚·阿普加(1909-1974)
- If you have a child or work in pediatrics, you know what an Apgar score is. 我们要感谢博士. 维吉尼亚州阿普加, a leader in anesthesiology and renowned teacher, for developing this important health rubric in 1952 for assessing newborn babies.
- The test measures an infant’s breathing, 肌肉张力, 反应, and pulse to determine a newborn’s health. Apgar’s work was instrumental in decreasing infant mortality.
Nanette Kass Wenger (1930-present)
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women, and we have cardiology specialist Dr. Wenger to thank for the research that led to this understanding.
- Previously, it was thought heart disease primarily affected men. Dr. Wenger’s medical discoveries have played a key role in reducing disease and death due to heart disease in women.
If these female trailblazers inspire you to consider a career in nursing, Fortis can help you explore your options. 点击这里 for more information or call us today at (855) 436-7847 and speak to one of our career advisors.