Women’s History Month, which is held during March in the US, celebrates and honors the contributions of women, just as Black History Month highlights the often-forgotten accomplishments of black people. Here are some examples of historic female doctors most people have not heard of.

1. GREAT WOMEN
IN MEDICINE
Dr. Ramon Rego, MD

2. WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, WHICH IS HELD
DURING MARCH IN THE US, CELEBRATES AND
HONORS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN,
JUST AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
HIGHLIGHTS THE OFTEN-FORGOTTEN
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BLACK PEOPLE.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HISTORIC
FEMALE DOCTORS MOST PEOPLE HAVE NOT
HEARD OF.

3. METRADORA
Metrodora was a Greek physician who lived
somewhere between 200 and 400 AD. She was a
midwife and early gynecologist. She was also the
author of “On the Diseases and Cures of Women,”
the first known medical text to be written by a
woman. It contained 63 chapters covering topics
like gynecology and pathology. Metrodora was
also one of the first physicians to recommend
surgery for both uterine and breast cancers.
ELIZABETH
BLACKWELL
Elizabeth Blackwell (1821 – 1910) was the first woman to earn a
medical degree in the United States. She was born in Bristol,
England, and her family moved to the US when she was around
11 years old. After earning her medical degree in 1851, she
established a clinic for poor women in New York City. In 1857,
she and two other female doctors founded the New York
Infirmary for Women and Children. During the Civil War,
Blackwell and her colleagues trained nurses to serve in Union
hospitals. A few years later, Blackwell established a medical
college in New York City. She moved to London, where the new
London School of Medicine for Women hired her as their
Professor of Gynecology in 1875. Blackwell also became one of
the founders of the National Health Society.

4. YOSHIOKA YAYOI
Yoshioka Yayoi (1871-1959) was a doctor and
women’s right activist who founded the first
medical school for women in Japan. Exasperated
by the sexism she had encountered during her
studies, she decided to establish her own medical
school – and did so before turning 30. The Tokyo
Women’s Medical School graduates, however
could not legally practice medicine until 1912, when
the Japanese government began allowing women
to take the national medical examination.
VIRGINIA
APGAR
Virginia Apgar (1909-1974) was an American anesthesiologist
who was also a leader in the field of teratology. She is best
known for her development of the Apgar score, a quick way of
assessing the health of newborn children. In 1949, she became
the first woman to become a full professor at the Columbia
University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She spent the
last 15 years of her life working with the March of Dimes
Foundation. During that time, she educated people about the
health problems associated with premature birth. She and Joan
Beck co-authored “Is My Baby All Right?” a popular guide to
birth defects published in 1972.

5. THANK YOU!
Dr. Ramon Rego, MD