Geneva Medical School In 1849 example essay topic

When Elizabeth Blackwell graduated from Geneva Medical School in 1849, she became the first woman doctor in the United States. When she enrolled in the Medical Register of the United Kingdom, this made her Europe's first modern woman doctor. Elizabeth Blackwell was born in 1821 in Bristol, England. She was one of nine children and her father was a very prosperous sugar refiner. Her family immigrated to New York City in 1832. Her family was very active in the abolitionist movement in New York.

Her father's refinery did not prosper and forced the family to move to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1838. Her father died shortly after this move and meant that the boys now needed to find work and the girls now needed to attend school. The Blackwells made contributions in aiding escaped slaves and in the Intellectual movement. In 1844, Elizabeth determined that she wanted to become a doctor. At first, she had trouble because no medical school would admit her because of her gender. Because of this, she studied privately with doctors in Philadelphia and in the South.

In 1847, Elizabeth was admitted to the Geneva Medical School of Western New York. This decision brought about much criticism but Elizabeth persevered and pursued her dream. In 1849, she graduated from Geneva Medical School at the top of her class. After this, she went to Paris (which at this time was the medical Mecca) to take advanced studies, but she was not permitted to study here either. She was then forced to enter a large maternity hospital as a student midwife. Here she contracted an infection and lost her sight in one eye.

She then went to London and there she was permitted to continue her studies. In 1850, Elizabeth returned to New York City and was not allowed to practice medicine in any hospital. During this time, she fought hard for her rights to practice medicine. She and her sister Emily started the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. This won her acclaim from everyone and it allowed a place for women to practice medicine.

She also gained tremendous recognition for her ability to meet the problems presented by the Civil War. Within the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, she opened a medical college for women. After the Civil War, Elizabeth moved back to England and settled here for the rest of her life. She was recognized here for her numerous lectures given about her findings and discoveries in the medical profession.

She also wrote a series of books dealing with Social Hygiene and Preventative Medicine. Elizabeth was a pioneer in her field and shaped the history of medicine forever. If it was not for her, women may not have formally studied medicine for lot later time. She was a true icon in American history..