Women's medical schoolIn 1848, the Boston Female Medical School, first medical school in the world exclusively for women opened its doors to 12 students. Founded by Samuel Gregory, who disapproved of male doctors attending childbirth, its early curriculum focused on midwifery. In 1850, renamed the New England Female Medical College, this was expanded to include a full medical curriculum, and the college began to grant medical degrees to women. By 1873, the college had graduated 98 women doctors, including Rebecca Lee, MD, the first African-American female physician. Shortly after Geregory's death, it merged with Boston University School of Medicine, becoming one of the first coed medical colleges in the world.[Image: from title page of of the Thirteenth Annual Announcement of the New England Female Medical College, 1860.] |
