Elizabeth Reifsnyder

Elizabeth Reifsnyder (1858–1935) was an American medical missionary and feminist who made significant contributions to the field of medicine and women's rights in China. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and served in China for over 30 years.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Reifsnyder was born in 1858 in Pennsylvania, United States. She completed her medical education at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, one of the first medical schools in the world to admit women.

Career

In 1884, Reifsnyder was sent to China by the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She established the Elizabeth Skelton Danforth Hospital in Shanghai, which was the first hospital in China to be managed by a woman. The hospital provided medical services to women and children and also served as a training center for Chinese women to become nurses and doctors.

Reifsnyder was also a strong advocate for women's rights. She founded the Shanghai Women's Christian Temperance Union and served as its first president. She also played a key role in the establishment of the McTyeire Home and School, a school for girls in Shanghai.

Legacy

Elizabeth Reifsnyder's work in China had a profound impact on the advancement of women's rights and the development of modern medicine in the country. Her efforts paved the way for future generations of women in medicine and contributed to the improvement of healthcare services in China.

See Also

• Medical Missionaries
• Women's Rights in China
• Methodist Episcopal Church
• Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania
• Woman's Foreign Missionary Society
• Shanghai Women's Christian Temperance Union
• McTyeire Home and School