Julia Dempsey
American religious sister and surgical assistant
Julia Dempsey (1856 – March 29, 1939), known in religion as Sister Mary Joseph, was an American religious sister and surgical assistant renowned for her work with Dr. William J. Mayo at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. She is best known for identifying the Sister Mary Joseph nodule, a palpable nodule bulging into the umbilicus that is a sign of metastatic cancer.
Early life[edit | edit source]
Julia Dempsey was born in 1856 in Rochester, Minnesota, into a large Irish-American family. She was one of the eight children of James and Margaret Dempsey. Her early life was marked by a strong religious upbringing, which eventually led her to join the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota.
Religious life[edit | edit source]
In 1878, Julia Dempsey entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Saint Francis, taking the religious name Sister Mary Joseph. She professed her final vows in 1881. The Sisters of Saint Francis were instrumental in the founding and operation of Saint Marys Hospital, which was established in collaboration with the Mayo family.
Career at Saint Marys Hospital[edit | edit source]
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Sister Mary Joseph began her work at Saint Marys Hospital as a surgical assistant to Dr. William J. Mayo. Her role was pivotal in the development of the hospital's surgical practices. She was known for her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to anticipate the needs of the surgeons during operations.
Her most notable contribution to medicine was the identification of the Sister Mary Joseph nodule. This clinical sign is an important indicator of intra-abdominal malignancy, particularly gastric cancer and ovarian cancer. The nodule is named in her honor, reflecting her keen observational skills and her contributions to the field of surgery.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Sister Mary Joseph's work at Saint Marys Hospital left a lasting impact on the medical community. Her dedication to patient care and her contributions to surgical practice are remembered as integral to the hospital's history. The Sister Mary Joseph nodule remains a significant clinical sign in the diagnosis of metastatic cancer.
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