Emily Blackwell

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Emily Blackwell (October 8, 1826 – September 7, 1910) was an influential American physician, notable for being the third woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, and the second woman to do so in the same family, following her sister Elizabeth Blackwell. Emily Blackwell played a pivotal role in the development of medical education for women and was a co-founder of the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children, alongside Elizabeth Blackwell and Marie Zakrzewska, a pioneering institution in providing medical care to the underserved and in offering women a place to practice medicine and receive medical training.

Early Life and Education

Born in Bristol, England, Emily Blackwell was the fifth of nine children in the Blackwell family. The Blackwells emigrated to the United States in 1832, settling in New York City before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio. After the death of her father in 1838, the Blackwell family faced financial difficulties, prompting Emily and her siblings to work in various capacities to support the family.

Inspired by her sister Elizabeth's struggles and successes in pursuing a medical career, Emily decided to follow in her footsteps. However, her path to medical education was fraught with challenges due to the prevailing prejudices against women in medicine at the time. After being rejected by several medical schools, she was finally admitted to Rush Medical College in Chicago, but her stay there was short-lived due to protests from the male student body. She eventually transferred to and graduated from the Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University) in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1854, becoming the third woman in the U.S. to earn a medical degree.

Career and Legacy

After completing her medical degree, Emily Blackwell traveled to Europe to gain practical experience, particularly in surgery. Upon her return to the United States, she joined her sister Elizabeth in New York City, where they established the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children in 1857. This institution was groundbreaking, as it was the first hospital staffed by women, serving the dual purpose of providing medical care to the poor and offering clinical training and experience to women medical students and physicians.

In 1868, the Blackwell sisters, along with Dr. Marie Zakrzewska, expanded their vision by founding the Women's Medical College of the New York Infirmary. Emily Blackwell served as a professor and later as the dean of the college, which was dedicated to the thorough medical education of women. The college emphasized rigorous academic and clinical training, setting a high standard for medical education for women at the time.

Emily Blackwell's contributions to medicine and her role in advancing women's medical education were significant. She worked tirelessly to improve the standards of medical care and education, advocating for the acceptance and integration of women in the medical profession. Her efforts, along with those of her sister Elizabeth and Dr. Zakrzewska, laid the foundation for future generations of women in medicine.

Death and Legacy

Emily Blackwell died on September 7, 1910, in York Cliffs, Maine. Her legacy endures through the institutions she helped to establish and the barriers she broke down for women in medicine. The New York Infirmary, now known as the New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, continues to serve the community, and the Women's Medical College, though it merged with Cornell University's medical school in 1899, paved the way for the education of countless women physicians.