Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)

February 3rd commemorates National Women Physicians Day. This special day celebrates Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell’s birthday.  Blackwell was the first woman in America to receive a medical degree and championed the participation of women in the medical profession and ultimately opened her own medical college for women.

Blackwell faced discrimination and obstacles in college: professors forced her to sit separately at lectures and often excluded her from labs; local townspeople shunned her as a “bad” woman for defying her gender role. Blackwell eventually earned the respect of professors and classmates, graduating first in her class in 1849.

Balboa Nephrology is proud to celebrate the incredible women physicians on our team.  Thank you for all you do for the kidney community!

Source: National Women’s History Museum