Louisa Aldrich-Blake

Louisa Aldrich-Blake (1865–1925) was a pioneering British surgeon and the first woman to obtain a Master of Surgery degree in Britain. She is best known for her work in developing new surgical techniques for treating cancers of the cervix and rectum.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Louisa Aldrich-Blake was born on 15 August 1865 in Chingford, Essex. She was the daughter of a clergyman, Reverend Frederick Aldrich-Blake. She attended the Cheltenham Ladies' College and later studied at the London School of Medicine for Women, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree in 1893.

Career[edit | edit source]

In 1894, Aldrich-Blake became the first woman in Britain to receive a Master of Surgery degree. She was appointed assistant surgeon at the New Hospital for Women and the London School of Medicine for Women, where she later became a senior surgeon and dean. Aldrich-Blake was known for her innovative surgical techniques, particularly in the treatment of cancers of the cervix and rectum. She also played a significant role in the development of radium as a treatment for cancer.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Aldrich-Blake's contributions to medicine have been widely recognized. In 1925, the year of her death, the Royal Free Hospital named a ward in her honor. In 1950, a blue plaque was unveiled at her former residence in Bloomsbury, London. In 2019, Google commemorated her with a Google Doodle on what would have been her 154th birthday.

References[edit | edit source]

Louisa Aldrich-Blake Resources
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