Feb 2015 SPOTLIGHT ON First Woman Physician

 Born in Bristol England, moved to the United States in 1832  1842 – 1846 she had various teaching positions  October Blackwell was accepted as a medical student by Geneva Medical College now known as Hobart College  January Blackwell became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. Also graduated first in the class.  Blackwell continues her medical education in Europe  1851 – Blackwell returns to the United States to pursue her career.

 established a small dispensary near Tompkins Square, NYC  founded the New York Infirmary for Women and Children  1861–65 - organized a unit of female field doctors during Civil War  1868 – established Women’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary  Blackwell sets up practice in London  Blackwell established a women's medical school in London  she was professor of gynecology at the London School of Medicine for Women. As her health declined, Blackwell gave up the practice of medicine in the late 1870s, though she still campaigned for reform.

 Two institutions honor Elizabeth Blackwell as an alumna: 1. Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the current name of Geneva College, the founding institution of Geneva Medical College 2. State University of New York (SUNY) at Syracuse, which acquired Geneva Medical College in 1950 and renamed it "State University of New York Upstate Medical University" in  Since 1949, the American Medical Women's Association has awarded the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal annually to a woman physician.  Hobart and William Smith Colleges awards an annual Elizabeth Blackwell Award to women who have demonstrated "outstanding service to humankind.  In 2013 the University of Bristol launched the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research

“ If society will not admit of woman’s free development then society must be remodeled”.