Georgia Rooks Dwelle

Georgia Rooks Dwelle

Name	Georgia Rooks Dwelle
Birth name
Birth date	September 26, 1884
Birth place	Albany, Georgia, USA
Death date	March 27, 1977
Death place	Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Alma mater
Occupation	Physician
Years active
Organization
Known for	First African American woman to establish a private general hospital in Atlanta
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Georgia Rooks Dwelle (September 26, 1884 – March 27, 1977) was a pioneering African American physician and public health advocate. She was the first African American woman to establish a private general hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, and was instrumental in improving healthcare for African Americans in the early 20th century.

Early Life and Education

Georgia Rooks Dwelle was born in Albany, Georgia, to parents who valued education and community service. Her father, George Henry Dwelle, was a prominent Baptist minister, and her mother, Sarah Rooks Dwelle, was a teacher. Georgia was encouraged to pursue higher education, which was rare for African American women at the time.

She attended Spelman Seminary (now Spelman College) in Atlanta, where she excelled academically. After graduating in 1900, she went on to study at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the few medical schools that accepted African American students. She graduated with a medical degree in 1904.

Medical Career

After completing her medical education, Dwelle returned to Georgia to practice medicine. In 1920, she founded the Dwelle Infirmary in Atlanta, which was the first private general hospital for African Americans in the city. The infirmary provided much-needed medical care to the African American community, which was often denied access to public hospitals due to segregation.

Dwelle was also a strong advocate for maternal and child health. She established a maternity ward and a well-baby clinic at her infirmary, focusing on reducing infant mortality rates and improving maternal health among African Americans.

Public Health Advocacy

In addition to her work as a physician, Dwelle was deeply involved in public health advocacy. She worked with various organizations to promote health education and preventive care in African American communities. Her efforts were crucial in addressing health disparities and improving access to healthcare for marginalized populations.

Legacy

Georgia Rooks Dwelle's contributions to medicine and public health have had a lasting impact. She broke barriers as an African American woman in a predominantly white and male profession, and her work laid the foundation for future generations of African American healthcare professionals.

Also see

• Spelman College
• Meharry Medical College
• African American women in medicine
• History of healthcare in the United States