During the late 19th century, the first woman to attain a medical degree in South America was Eloisa Diaz Insunza. She was born in Mexico and later moved to Guatemala. After completing her medical studies, she returned to Mexico where she became a nurse. Later she became a teacher. She also established a home for pregnant women in Guatemala and a nursing home for the elderly.
Eloisa Diaz Insunza
Getting a doctorate in medical science was no easy task, but a woman from Chile did the unthinkable. She was the first woman to receive a medical degree in South America. Her accomplishments are impressive in a hygienic and logical way.
Eloisa Diaz was born on June 24, 1866 in Santiago. She was the daughter of Eulogio Diaz Varas and Carmela Insunza. She graduated in medicine and pharmaceutical on December 27, 1886. The following year, she was named the first director of the School Medical Service of Chile. This position lasted a good thirty years, during which time she made some interesting medical contributions.
She also created several important medical and educational milestones. She founded a number of schools, including kindergartens, school camps and polyclinics for the poor. She even participated in a scientific conference. For her achievements, she received the accolades that come with her title as “Illustrious Woman of America”. She died on November 1, 1950. She was buried in the prestigious San Vicente de Paul cemetery in Santiago.
Her other notable contributions were the creation of the Medical Department of the San Borja Arriaran Hospital and the inauguration of the first public polyclinic in Chile. She also became the first woman to receive a medical degree from the University of Chile. She was also the first to see the sun rise and set in Chile.
In addition to her medical accomplishments, she was a social reformer, who also fought the good fight against infant illnesses. She pushed for mass vaccinations and campaigns against rickets and alcoholism. She was also a philanthropist, who donated many millions of dollars to the betterment of her country. She was a hygienist at heart and a social pioneer. The University of Chile opened its doors on September 17, 1843.
The University of Chile was the first of its kind in South America. The University of Chile is the highest rated university in Chile and is a Catholic university. As such, it was able to support the development of the country’s education and energy infrastructure.
Susan La Flesche Picotte
During the late 1800s, only two medical schools in the United States accepted women. The Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP) was the first. It was in Philadelphia.
Susan La Flesche Picotte was born in Nebraska in 1865. Her father was Chief Joseph La Flesche of the Omaha Indian tribe. Known as “Iron Eye”, La Flesche emphasized education for his people. He believed that a white education would give his people a good future. He was also the last Omaha chief.
La Flesche attended a reservation school operated by missionaries, and later taught at a Quaker mission school. She also studied at the Elizabeth Institute for Young Ladies in New Jersey. She later graduated from the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.
During her time at the WMCP, Susan La Flesche graduated first in her class. She then received a scholarship to the Hampton Institute in Virginia. She also completed an internship at the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. After graduation, Susan La Flesche became the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree.
Susan La Flesche was born on the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska. Her parents encouraged education, and were members of the Presbyterian missionary church. They worked closely with missionaries in the area. They also emphasized a Christian faith.
When Susan La Flesche returned home to the reservation, she worked as a missionary. She traveled on horseback and made house calls. She also helped people with day-to-day affairs. When her husband developed tuberculosis, she nursed him back to health.
After her husband’s death, Susan led a delegation to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the ban on alcohol on Indian lands. She also became involved in the Temperance Movement. She worked to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. She also helped to translate tribal documents. She worked long days, reaching out to people in need. She served as a translator, business advisor, and advocate.
Susan La Flesche Picotte is a remarkable woman. She overcame many obstacles to become a successful doctor. She was a great advocate for her people and their culture.
Mae C. Jemison
Among the many accomplishments of Mae C. Jemison is that she became the first African American woman to go into space. She has been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. She has also received the National Organization for Women’s Intrepid Award.
In addition to her medical career, Jemison has also served in a variety of other roles. She has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, and she founded a company called The Jemison Group. She has also written self-care manuals for health care professionals. She has received numerous honorary degrees. She has also been selected as one of People magazine’s “World’s 50 Most Beautiful People.”
She received her medical degree from Cornell University in 1981. After graduating, she served as a Peace Corps medical officer in Sierra Leone and Liberia. She also worked in Cambodia and Thailand, where she helped run a refugee camp. Jemison also worked as a general practitioner in Los Angeles and opened her own practice. She later moved to Africa where she worked as a medical officer for two years. She then became a volunteer in Cuba. She is fluent in both Swahili and Russian.
Jemison is a strong advocate for bringing more girls into STEM programs. She is also the host of a weekly series on the Discovery Channel called “World of Wonder,” and she has written a book called “Find Where the Wind Goes.” This book is geared toward teenagers and is based on her experiences as an astronaut. It was released in 2006.
Jemison has been involved in many other projects, including a TEWS-Space Race. This initiative aims to improve science achievement among underserved students in the Los Angeles area. It is funded by the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
She is also the founder of The Earth We Share, an international science camp for teens. She has also served on the board of the World Sickle Cell Foundation. She has received numerous honorary degrees, and has received the National Organization for Women’s Intrepid award.
Vivian Pinn
During Vivian Pinn’s lifetime, she has been recognized for her achievements in women’s health. As the first full-time director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health, she was responsible for making sure that women were included in medical research studies.
Initially, Pinn planned on becoming a pediatrician. However, she changed her mind after a summer internship at Massachusetts General Hospital. During this time, she developed an interest in science and became passionate about curing diseases. Eventually, she decided that becoming a doctor meant that she would have to pay attention to her patients. Pinn’s goal was to ensure that all patients were taken seriously.
Pinn has continued to advocate for women’s health. She has been a member of the Board of Advisors at Tufts University School of Medicine, and she is currently a Senior Scientist Emerita at the NIH Fogarty International Center. She also serves on the Board of Trustees at Thomas Jefferson University and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson. In 2016, Pinn Hall at Tufts University was renamed after her.
During her career, Pinn has been the recipient of fourteen honorary degrees. Her research has been published in over 200 scientific publications. She is also the recipient of the Elizabeth Blackwell Award from the American Medical Women’s Association. Pinn served as the President of the National Medical Association, and she was also elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is currently Chair of the NMA Past Presidents Council.
As the first full-time director of the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Research on Women’s Health, Pinn ensured that women were included in the research studies funded by the NIH. She also led initiatives to enhance training for research scientists in women’s health.
Pinn has also been the recipient of a special recognition award from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Her award recognized her leadership over forty years of her career. She was also named an Honorary Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine.
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