Susan McKinney Steward

Susan McKinney Steward (1847 – 1918) was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in New York State, and the third in the United States. She was known for her work in gynecology and pediatrics.

Early life and education

McKinney Steward was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1847. She was the seventh of ten children. Her father, Sylvanus Smith, was one of the founders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the community. She attended the Wilberforce University, a historically black university in Ohio, where she studied music. After the death of her husband, she decided to pursue a career in medicine.

Medical career

In 1869, McKinney Steward enrolled in the New York Medical College for Women, a homeopathic institution. She graduated as valedictorian in 1870. She started her medical practice in Brooklyn, where she treated both white and black patients. She was known for her work in gynecology and pediatrics. In 1881, she co-founded the Brooklyn Women’s Homeopathic Hospital and Dispensary.

Later life and legacy

In 1896, McKinney Steward moved to Wilberforce, Ohio, where she served as the resident physician at her alma mater, Wilberforce University. She died in 1918. Her legacy continues to inspire many, especially women of color in the medical field.

See also

• List of African-American firsts
• History of medicine in the United States

Susan McKinney Steward Resources
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