Anne Walter Fearn

Anne Walter Fearn (1895–1981) was an American physician and medical missionary who served in China and Lebanon. She was the first woman to be appointed a full professor at the American University of Beirut.

Early life and education

Fearn was born in Alabama, United States, in 1895. She completed her undergraduate studies at Birmingham-Southern College before pursuing a medical degree at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, where she graduated in 1921.

Career

After completing her medical degree, Fearn moved to China to work as a medical missionary for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. She served in this role for several years, providing medical care to local communities and training local medical staff.

In 1928, Fearn moved to Lebanon to join the faculty of the American University of Beirut. She was appointed a full professor in 1936, becoming the first woman to hold such a position at the university. Fearn's work in Lebanon included establishing a nursing school and a public health department at the university.

Fearn returned to the United States in 1955 and continued her work in public health, focusing on improving healthcare for the elderly. She retired in 1960 but remained active in the medical community until her death in 1981.

Legacy

Fearn's contributions to medicine and public health, particularly in China and Lebanon, have been recognized by several institutions. The American University of Beirut named a building in her honor, and she was posthumously inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1987.

See also

• List of female pioneers in medicine
• History of medicine in China
• History of medicine in Lebanon