Elizabeth Blackwell
- A Girl Like You Project
- Jun 9, 2023
- 1 min read
Photo: Bettmann/Getty Images
Elizabeth Blackwell was born on February 3, 1821 in Bristol, England. She is the first women in America to receive a medical degree. In 1847 Blackwell was rejected from every college she applied to. She ended up getting accepted, as a joke, to Geneva College.
In college Blackwell faced backlash and discrimination from both her peers and professors. Professors would have her sit separately from the rest of the students and often excluded her from participating in labs. Despite all this, she graduated first in her class in 1849.
Blackwell continued her medical practices at London and Paris hospitals. There, she faced stereotypes as doctors relegated her to midwife and nurse duties. She made her mark in these hospitals by encouraging preventative care and hygiene. She advocated for this after witnessing doctors go between patients without washing their hands, contributing to epidemics.
In 1868 Blackwell started her own medical college for women. After establishing her school she moved back to England, set up a private practice, and served as a lecturer at the London School of Medicine for Women. During her lifetime, she made great strides in opening the door for future female doctors.
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