Historically, medicine was a male trade and women were mainly confined to the roles of nurse and midwife. As time has gone by, more and more women have become involved in medicine and there are now thousands of women doctors working in the UK and across the world.
Famous women in the history of medicine include:
Hygeia
Hygeia was the ancient Greek goddess of health. Her stature as a goddess helped to spread the message of hygiene, cleanliness and healthy living.
Trotula
Trotula was a woman who lived in Salerno, Southern Italy, in the 11th Century and a chair of medicine at the nearby School of Salerno. It is believed that the first medical school was established at the School of Salerno and women were able to train as physicians and professors of medicine.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson is one of the most famous women doctors of all time; she played an instrumental role in encouraging the acceptance of female professionals in the world of medicine, which was dominated by males at the time. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson followed the example of Elizabeth Blackwell, an American doctor who worked in the 1800’s. Garrett Anderson met Blackwell at the age of 24 and was inspired to train as a nurse. After completing her training, she applied to train as a doctor but was rejected by organisations in England. She subsequently went to study in France and graduated from the University of Paris in 1870. After graduating, she returned to London and set up her own practice. In 1874, she opened the London School of Medicine for Women and in 1876 parliament passed an act, which allowed women to enter all fields of the medical profession.
Sophia Jex-Blake
Sophia Jex-Blake was a contemporary of Elizabeth Garrett-Anderson and worked alongside her to open the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women in 1887 and campaign for women to be allowed to study medicine at British universities. Jex-Blake qualified as a doctor in 1877 and went on to open a medical practice in London and a clinic for women who were living in poverty.
