By Brooke Liber CHASE D. Williams Women Doctors By Brooke Liber CHASE D. Williams

Barriers Women experienced criticism from their families, friends, and mostly men through the decades while wanting to become a doctor. Women were seen by men as they entered doctors offices as brainwashed. Blacks at this point in time were considered a better chance to work in the doctor’s office before women.

Historical Overview Women in the past have been looked upon in the world as mothers, caregivers, wives and many other roles. Women have typically had few to no rights in the past. Women have been seen as less inferior to men, and have even been looked down upon because they were thought of as evil.

Historical Overview Con’d Women were looked at as not being able to do work that considered physical activity. Women were rarely given a chance to further their education after the minimum required education program was completed. Recently women have earned their right to vote, along with many other roles to advance their lives and careers.

Molly Radford Ward, M.D. She was a general practitioner and anesthesiologist. Entered medical school with the disapprovement of her family. Radford’s family thought medical school was no place for a woman. Anesthesiology was new breakthrough to doctors during WWII in being able to perform medical operations without causing memorable harm to the patient, because the common method before was ether.

Jane Patterson, M.D. She was a gynecologist and obstetrician Dr. Patterson owned her own private practice. She came into touch with women and how they feel about a women’s “touch” when they see a doctor for their female issues. Patterson was concerned about lack of prevention for diseases.

Sterling Puck, M.D. She was a geneticist Puck’s family was very supportive of her becoming a doctor. During her time in school, Puck noticed that the majority of her class was filled with women. Women were starting to become recognized in schools and in the workplace. Puck opened a genetics laboratory to take samples of skin, hair, and blood to analyze for genetic defects.

Josette Mondanaro, M.D. She was a general practitioner with emphasis on chemical dependency and women’s health. Her parents didn’t want her to have to work hard because she was a women, and being a doctor meant hard work and long hours. Mondanaro ended up being the CEO and being the chief executive officer of California’s $46 million drug programs.

Women Doctors at Work

Cultural Aspects Each of these women came from different families, but managed to fulfill their dream with practicing science and medicine. In some countries, women are seen as healers, such as the curanderas, and like Jane Patterson. Patterson’s background gave her the knowledge to understand what kind of care women needed when visiting the doctor for female reasons.

Work Cited Women's History in America Presented by Women's International Center. Compton’s Interaction Encyclopedia, 1995. http://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm.