• AAUW California Business
  • Branch Tools
  • AAUW Fund
  • Projects/Programs
  • Calendar
  • Directory
  • Help?
  • View AAUWCA’s profile on Facebook
  • View aauwca’s profile on Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

AAUW California

Empowering Women in California

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Join Us
  • Support Us
  • Public Policy
  • Tech Trek
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Women's History Month / Women’s History Month – Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell

Women’s History Month – Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell

March 11, 2018

Elizabeth Blackwell StampDr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in America to receive a medical degree, was born in England in 1821 and moved with her family to the United States as a young child. She studied privately with male doctors who supported her cause. After being rejected by 29 medical schools, Blackwell was finally admitted to New York’s Geneva Medical College as a joke. The admissions committee thought that a rival school had submitted the application as a prank. It was no joke when she graduated at the top of her class in 1849. This made her the first woman to graduate from an American medical school.

Unable to find work because no institution would hire her, she won the support of the Society of Friends, called the Quakers, who began referring patients to her. Because no one would rent space to her, she purchased a house in New York and opened an office in 1852; four years later, this one-room dispensary became the New York Infirmary for Women and Children.

For more information see the National Women’s History Museum article.

Submitted by Sharon Westafer, AAUW California Director

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • More
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Filed Under: Updates, Women's History Month

Upcoming Events

Oct
21
Tue
2025
5:30 pm Amador Branch – Libations & Conv...
Amador Branch – Libations & Conv...
Oct 21 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
OCTOBER LIBATIONS & CONVERSATIONS — Nutritional Strategies to Optimize Health & Longevity Please join us for Libations and Conversations on the topic of “Nutritional Strategies to Optimize Health and Longevity,” Thursday, October 21, 5:30 – 6:30 pm[...]
Oct
22
Wed
2025
7:00 pm The Four Pivots – Session One
The Four Pivots – Session One
Oct 22 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Audience: All Members Registration Link Join us for the first in a series of four meetings that will explore the book “The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves” by Dr. Shawn Ginwright. The book is grounded[...]
Oct
26
Sun
2025
all-day Quarterly State Leadership Team ...
Quarterly State Leadership Team ...
Oct 26 all-day
 
2:00 pm Amador Branch AAUW presents “How...
Amador Branch AAUW presents “How...
Oct 26 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SCAMMED or know someone who has? Join AAUW on Sunday, October 26, 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Amador Senior Center for a free How to Be a Scammer Jammer event[...]
Oct
28
Tue
2025
7:00 pm AAUW Fund Peer Group Meeting
AAUW Fund Peer Group Meeting
Oct 28 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
AAUW Fund Peer Group Meeting @ On Zoom
The AAUW Fund will host five AAUW Fund Branch Coordinator Peer Group meetings on Tuesday evenings, on Zoom from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, starting in September and continuing in October, November, March, and April. Please watch for the email[...]
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML
AAUW California Office
PO BOX 160067
Sacramento, CA 95816-0067

AAUW California. All rights reserved.
Connect with the AAUW California Webteam at
webteam@aauw-ca.org

office@aauw-ca.org
Phone: 916-389-0220

Copyright © 2025 · AAUW CA Child Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...