From ancient healers to modern medical pioneers, women have consistently broken barriers and revolutionized the field of medicine. While the path has been fraught with challenges, the indelible contributions of women doctors are undeniable. This article shines a light on some of these remarkable figures, celebrating the “First Female Doctors” who paved the way for generations to come and whose legacies continue to inspire.
Ancient Roots: Metrodora, a Pioneer of Medical Texts
Centuries before modern medical institutions, Metrodora (circa 200–400 CE) emerged as a groundbreaking female physician in Greece. Her seminal work, On the Diseases and Cures of Women, stands as the oldest known medical text authored by a woman. Beyond its historical significance, Metrodora’s writings were remarkably innovative, detailing surgical approaches to breast and uterine cancers, demonstrating an advanced understanding of medical practices for her time. She wasn’t just a woman in medicine; she was a leading medical authority who shaped early gynecological knowledge.
Medieval Mastery: Hildegard of Bingen, the Expert Diagnostician
During the 12th century, as Europe navigated the medieval period, Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), a German Benedictine abbess, rose to prominence as a learned woman and a recognized expert in medical diagnosis and treatment. Though the Trotula, a collection of gynecological texts, was mistakenly attributed to a woman named Trotula, Hildegard’s expertise was unequivocally her own. She authored two comprehensive volumes on medicine, Causae et Curae, solidifying her place as a leading medical mind of her era and an early example of female medical scholarship.
16th Century: Louyse Bourgeois and the Rise of Nurse-Midwifery
The 16th century witnessed the foundations of modern nurse-midwifery being laid by Louyse Bourgeois (1563–1636). As the royal midwife to King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Médicis, Bourgeois delivered the children of French aristocracy and significantly advanced the field of obstetrics through her detailed writings and practical expertise. Her role highlighted the growing importance of skilled women in childbirth and maternal care, paving the way for the formalization of nurse-midwifery as a profession.
19th Century: Breakthroughs and Barriers in America
The 19th century marked a turning point in the United States, with women beginning to overcome significant barriers to enter the medical profession.
1820: Florence Nightingale’s Nursing Revolution
While not a physician, Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), born in 1820, revolutionized healthcare through nursing. She fundamentally transformed the role of nurses in hospitals, establishing hygiene standards that dramatically reduced infection rates. Nightingale championed professional training for nurses, founding the first scientifically based nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London in 1860. Her impact on patient care and hospital administration is immeasurable, setting new standards for medical environments globally.
1849: Elizabeth Blackwell, America’s First Female Medical Graduate
A pivotal moment arrived in 1849 when Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910) became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. Facing immense prejudice, Blackwell persevered, opening the New York Infirmary for Women and Children in 1857 with her sister, Dr. Emily Blackwell, and Dr. Marie Zakrzewska. Her 1895 publication, Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women, powerfully documents her struggles and triumphs, inspiring future generations of women doctors.
1863: Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Surgeon and Medal of Honor Recipient
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (1832–1919) achieved another “first” as likely the first woman surgeon in the U.S. Army. Serving during the Civil War, she endured capture and imprisonment, but her dedication earned her the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1865. Dr. Walker’s unwavering commitment to medicine in the face of adversity cemented her place as a true pioneer.
1864: Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Breaking Racial Barriers in Medicine
Just a year later, in 1864, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–1895) became the first African-American woman to earn an MD degree in the United States. She further distinguished herself as one of the first black physicians to publish a medical text, A Book of Medical Discourses: In Two Parts (1883). Dr. Crumpler dedicated her post-Civil War career to caring for newly freed slaves, addressing critical healthcare needs within underserved communities.
1889: Susan La Flesche Picotte, Medicine for Native American Communities
Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte (1865–1915) achieved a historic milestone in 1889 as the first Native American woman to receive a medical degree, decades before Native Americans were even recognized as U.S. citizens. She bravely oversaw healthcare across a vast 1,350 square mile Omaha reservation, demonstrating exceptional dedication to her community’s well-being.
Early 20th Century: Public Health and Institutional Firsts
The early 20th century saw women expanding their influence in public health and beginning to break barriers within established medical institutions.
1908: Sara Josephine Baker, Championing Child Health in NYC
Dr. Sara Josephine Baker (1873–1945) made remarkable strides in public health, particularly in reducing infant mortality rates in New York City’s immigrant communities in the early 1900s. Her innovative public health initiatives and her role in tracking down “Typhoid Mary” twice, underscore her commitment to disease prevention and community health.
1908: Mary Engle Pennington, Leading Food Safety at the FDA
Dr. Mary Engle Pennington (1872–1952), a distinguished bacteriologist and Yale research fellow, became the first woman lab chief at the FDA in 1908. She played a critical role in implementing the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, dedicating over 40 years to educating both government and the public on safe food handling practices.
1916: Yale School of Medicine Welcomes Its First Women
A significant step for women in medical education occurred in 1916 when Yale School of Medicine admitted its first female students: Louise Farnam, Helen May Scoville, and Lillian Lydia Nye. While Nye transferred, Farnam and Scoville graduated from Yale in 1920, with Farnam further contributing to global health at the Hunan-Yale Hospital and College of Medicine in China.
Mid to Late 20th Century: Nobel Laureates and Leadership Roles
The mid to late 20th century witnessed women achieving the highest accolades in medicine and assuming leadership positions within prestigious institutions.
1937: Florence Seibert, Laying the Foundation for Tuberculosis Testing
Dr. Florence Seibert (1897–1991), who earned her PhD from Yale in biochemistry in 1923, revolutionized tuberculosis diagnosis by isolating the tuberculosis protein molecule. This breakthrough led to the development of the first reliable tuberculosis test. She also pioneered safe intravenous therapy, further solidifying her impact on medical practices.
1947: Gerty Cori, First U.S. Woman Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
Dr. Gerty Cori (1896–1957) achieved the pinnacle of scientific recognition in 1947, becoming the first woman in the United States to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Shared with her husband, Carl Cori, and Bernardo Houssay, the prize honored their groundbreaking discovery of how glycogen is metabolized in the body.
1948: Beatrix McCleary Hamburg, Pioneering Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
In 1948, Dr. Beatrix McCleary Hamburg (1923–2018) became the first African-American woman to graduate from Yale School of Medicine. Her career focused on behavioral and developmental issues in adolescents, and she contributed significantly to the National Institute of Mental Health.
1952: Virginia Apgar, Revolutionizing Newborn Care
Dr. Virginia Apgar (1909–1974) transformed neonatology with the development of the Apgar score in 1952. This system, still used globally, provides a rapid assessment of a newborn’s health, identifying babies needing immediate intervention. The Apgar score is credited with saving countless infant lives and fundamentally changing newborn care.
1961: Dorothy M. Horstmann, Yale’s First Woman Professor of Medicine
Dr. Dorothy M. Horstmann (1911–2001) achieved another Yale “first” in 1961, becoming the first woman appointed as a professor at Yale School of Medicine. Her research on poliovirus transmission through the bloodstream was crucial to vaccine development. In 1969, she was further honored as the first woman at Yale to receive an endowed chair.
1965: Helen Brooke Taussig, First Woman President of the American Heart Association
Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig (1898–1986), a pioneer in pediatric cardiology, became the first woman president of the American Heart Association in 1965. Her co-creation of the Blalock-Taussig-Thomas shunt in 1944, the “blue baby operation,” dramatically improved survival rates for children with congenital heart defects and paved the way for modern coronary bypass surgery.
1971: Florence Wald, Founding the American Hospice Movement
Florence Wald (1916–2008), former dean of Yale School of Nursing, is recognized as the founder of the hospice movement in the United States, establishing the first American hospice unit in 1971. Her work transformed end-of-life care, emphasizing compassion, dignity, and holistic support for patients and families.
1972: Phyllis T. Bodel, Championing Women in Medicine at Yale
Dr. Phyllis T. Bodel (1934–1978) became the first director of Yale’s Office for Women in Medicine in 1972. Her research challenged biases against women in medicine, leading to policy changes at Yale that provided greater flexibility for women balancing career and family life.
1979: Joan A. Steitz, Unraveling the Secrets of RNA
Dr. Joan A. Steitz (1941–), a Yale professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry, made groundbreaking discoveries about snRNPs and their role in gene splicing. As the first woman graduate student in James Watson’s lab, her pioneering work in RNA has had a profound impact on our understanding of cellular processes.
1984: Carolyn W. Slayman, Leading Human Genetics at Yale
Dr. Carolyn W. Slayman (1937–2016) achieved a leadership milestone at Yale in 1984, becoming the first woman to head a department at Yale School of Medicine, chairing the Department of Human Genetics. She later became the first woman Deputy Dean for Academic and Scientific Affairs in 1995.
1990: Antonia Novello, First Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General
Dr. Antonia Novello (1944–), a native of Puerto Rico, made history in 1990 as the first woman and first Hispanic to serve as U.S. Surgeon General. Her expertise in nephrology, pediatrics, and public health informed her leadership in addressing critical national health issues.
1995: Christiane Nusslein-Volhard, Nobel Prize for Embryonic Development Research
Dr. Christiane Nusslein-Volhard (1942–) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1995 for her research on the genetic control of embryonic development, shared with Eric Wieschaus and Edward B. Lewis. Her work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of the earliest stages of life.
21st Century: Continuing the Legacy of Discovery
2009: Elizabeth Blackburn, Nobel Prize for Telomerase Discovery
Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn (1948–), a Yale postdoctoral fellow, received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009 along with Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak. Their groundbreaking discovery of telomerase and its role in chromosome protection has had significant implications for cancer therapies and our understanding of aging.
A Continuing Story of Progress
The journey of women in medicine is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to healing. From ancient Greece to modern research labs, these “first female doctors” and their successors have not only expanded medical knowledge but have also reshaped healthcare systems and societal perceptions. Their stories serve as a powerful reminder of the vital role women play in advancing medicine and inspiring future generations of doctors, regardless of gender.
