The First Female Doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell: a Biography

Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to graduate from medical school in the United States to become her dream job - to be a doctor, or in the medical field. She was born in

February 3rd, 1821 somewhere near England. When she was 11 years old, she and her family immigrated into the United States for a similar purpose to have a better life.

There was uproar of disbelief from the public and others on her performance and goals. Many people discouraged her and others rejected her from medical schools, but still she eventually joined a medical school and worked hard from day to night to achieve this magnificent goal that could very well change the future of medicine. There, believably the Geneva Medical College - she graduated and became the first woman to graduate medical school - and assumingly being in the medical field of work. In addition, it can be inferred that she has a very strong independent will and was only working towards a single prioritized goal. She was offered many other pathways - even high pay, but she avoided any paths that did not involve in the medical field. Elizabeth Blackwell not only became a doctor/being accepted in the medical field just by working hard hoping to be admitted into a medical college, she had to work with other doctors (male, of course) and “only” together she was finally admitted into the Geneva Medical College. At first, she wasn’t quite sure if she could make it by all the criticism by the public and even the college; however, after graduating she was given all the mighty respect from her peers and even the professors that once doubted her.

After graduation, she changed significantly and began to work hard to spread the word of medicine to the public [all]. There were many things she did with the rest of her life. She established an open clinic known as the New York Dispensary for Poor Women and Children, and with the help of others and her own family she established the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children. Then, in 1860, she opened a medical school for women in hopes to contagiously spread the word of medicine. Her being the first woman doctor was not the only important factor; she also emphasized that sanitary was one of the most important aspect of health; therefore, she helped establish the U.S. Sanitary Commission. Once that was over, she retired after being a lecturer back in England and moved back to the United Kingdom (UK) and there she died on May 31st, 1910.

This biography of Elizabeth Blackwell teaches a very good lesson. Back in the mid-1800s, women were still considered much more inferior than men. No one would believe if a woman was smart as they were merely sought to do housework and care for children if they had any. Her life teaches us that anything is possible if you work hard enough - it’s impossible to not get what your dreams are hoping for if you work hard enough, because that is exactly what Elizabeth Blackwell did. Her endless desire to become a doctor or graduate from the medical field as a woman was inconceivable back then; yet, she did it as with many other women in this generation. In my opinion, this biography/book was very informative on what caused this generation to have [many] female doctors and the lesson it taught is priceless in many ways. Without the proper chain of events - such as Elizabeth Blackwell becoming the first woman doctor, the world would be very different.