Eliza Ann Grier

American physician and first African-American woman licensed to practice medicine in Georgia

Eliza Ann Grier

Eliza Ann Grier (1864 – 1902) was an American physician and the first African-American woman licensed to practice medicine in the state of Georgia. Her journey to becoming a doctor was marked by perseverance and determination in the face of racial and gender barriers.

Early Life and Education

Eliza Ann Grier was born into slavery in 1864 in North Carolina. After the American Civil War, she pursued an education, which was a challenging endeavor for African Americans during the Reconstruction era. Grier attended Fisk University, a historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee, where she graduated in 1891.

Determined to become a physician, Grier applied to the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, one of the few medical schools at the time that accepted women and people of color. To finance her medical education, Grier alternated each year of study with a year of picking cotton. Despite these hardships, she graduated with a medical degree in 1897.

Medical Career

After obtaining her medical degree, Eliza Ann Grier returned to Georgia, where she became the first African-American woman licensed to practice medicine in the state. She established her practice in Atlanta, Georgia, where she provided medical care to the African-American community.

Grier's practice focused on obstetrics and gynecology, areas of medicine that were particularly important for women of her community. Her work was crucial in a time when African Americans faced significant health disparities and limited access to medical care.

Challenges and Legacy

Throughout her career, Grier faced numerous challenges, including racial discrimination and financial difficulties. Despite these obstacles, she remained committed to her profession and her patients.

Eliza Ann Grier's legacy is one of resilience and dedication. She paved the way for future generations of African-American women in medicine, demonstrating that it was possible to overcome societal barriers and achieve professional success.

Death

Eliza Ann Grier passed away in 1902, only a few years after beginning her medical practice. Her contributions to medicine and her pioneering spirit continue to be remembered and celebrated.

Related Pages

• Rebecca Lee Crumpler
• Mary Eliza Mahoney
• African-American women in medicine
• History of African Americans in Atlanta