IndexElizabeth Blackwell's Early LifeHer Road to Making HistoryBlackwell's Medical Degree in HistoryAchievementsDeathOther Interesting Facts About Elizabeth BlackwellElizabeth Blackwell and Her Adopted Daughter, Katherine BarryConclusionThroughout history, her Women around the world have been challenging the status quo, seeking the freedom to live and realize their dreams. In January 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell made history as the first formally credentialed female physician in the United States, thus charting a new course for women in medicine worldwide. As the first of its kind, Blackwell faced several challenges in the early years of her medical career. However, she withstood all this and made a name for herself as a model. For aspiring female doctors in the United States, her home country, England and the world at large. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Elizabeth Blackwell's Early Life Elizabeth Blackwell was born on February 3, 1821, in Bristol, England, to Hannah and Samuel Blackwell. His parents adopted a liberal disposition in his upbringing in terms of education, religion and social ideologies. Equal educational opportunities were given to both male and female children of the family. She had private tutors and other requirements aimed at granting her unlimited development of her skills. However, she turned out to be slightly socially isolated from her peers. In 1832, the Blackwells emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City. Six years later, they changed their location again to Cincinnati, Ohio. Elizabeth Blackwell grew up in a large family. He had two older brothers Anna and Marian and six younger brothers Samuel, Henry, Emily, Sarah Ellen, John and George. His family found themselves in financial difficulty during his early adulthood. In an effort to supplement the family's income, Blackwell and her older sisters Anna and Marian founded a school known as The Cincinnati English and French Academy for Young Ladies. self-improvement. While working as a teacher to pay the bills, he undertook an aggressive pursuit of knowledge through the study of art, attending lectures, and even taking part in the religious services of all sects. Ultimately, her interest in medicine was sparked after witnessing her friend's illness. During the experience, her friend noticed that her illness would have been more bearable if she had been treated by a doctor. This incident lit a fire under Blackwell, and she began saving for medical school costs while working as a teacher in Asheville, North Carolina, and later in Charleston, South Carolina. Blackwell eventually moved to Philadelphia in 1847 with the desire to be accepted into one of the medical schools there. However, she met stiff resistance at every turn, and many of her rejections were based on the belief that she was intellectually inferior to men. Those who supported her advised her to disguise herself as a man or move to Paris to study. She refused both. After sending applications to twelve schools, she was finally accepted into Geneva Medical College (now Hobart College) in October 1847 after her application received a unanimous vote from the school's 150 students, all male. However, Blackwell's challenges persisted even after gaining admission to medical school. Her attempts to gain clinical experience during summer vacations in Philadelphia were rebuffed as she was rejected at several institutions in the area. After being accepted into Blockley Almshouse, she received some initial resistance frompart of several young doctors who refused to help her care for her patients. Despite the bottlenecks, he made it to complete his studies and graduate in medicine. On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell received her medical degree, making history as the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree. Blackwell's Historic Medical Degree She moved to Europe in April 1849, where she obtained further studies in obstetrics and pediatrics. She first enrolled at La Maternité, a maternity clinic in Paris, France, on the premise that she would be considered a midwife in training and not a doctor. Her time at the facility ended in November 1849 after she accidentally contracted an eye infection, which ultimately cost her the use of one eye. After a long period of treatment and recovery, Blackwell enrolled in St Bartholomew's Hospital in London in 1850, where he also encountered a degree of resistance. He eventually returned to New York the following year with the hopes of starting his own business. Results In 1858, Elizabeth Blackwell founded a dispensary, the New York Infirmary for Destitute Women and Children, together with her sister Emily Blackwell, who had also obtained a medical degree, and Marie Zakrzewska, a young Polish doctor. The institution was the first of its kind as it had women on the board of directors and also as attending physicians. On 1 January 1859, Blackwell became the first female doctor to be entered into the UK medical register under a provision of the Medical Act 1858, which granted doctors with foreign qualifications the ability to practice in Britain before 1858. The London School of Medicine for Women was founded in 1874 by Elizabeth Blackwell and Sophia Jex-Blake. Elizabeth Blackwell later lost much of her influence in the institute to Jex-Blake and was elected lecturer in obstetrics, a position she left in 1877. She also contributed to medical research, with a total of 17 medical journals and writings credited to her . . Some of them include Scientific Method in Biology (1898) and Essays in Medical Sociology (1902). Death Elizabeth Blackwell remained active well into her eighties, although her activities were greatly limited by old age. She fell down a flight of stairs in 1907 while on holiday in Kilmun, Scotland, which left her both mentally and physically incapacitated. Three years later, on 31 May 1910, at his home in Hastings, Sussex, after suffering a partial stroke. His ashes were placed in the churchyard of St Munn's Parish Church, Kilmun. Other interesting facts about Elizabeth Blackwell The Elizabeth Blackwell Medal is awarded annually by the American Medical Women's Association to a doctor who has made great strides in advancing the cause of women around the world. field of medicine. The award was established in 1949, a century after Blackwell earned his medical degree. Blackwell's younger sister, Emily Blackwell, followed in her sister's footsteps into the field of medicine and was the third woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. Just like her older sister, Emily Blackwell was rejected at several medical schools before being accepted into the Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio (now Case Western Reserve School of Medicine). She graduated in 1854. Among other collaborations, the Blackwell sisters founded the Women's Medical College of New York in 1868. Elizabeth Blackwell and her adopted daughter, Katherine Barry In 1856, Elizabeth Blackwell adopted an Irish orphan, Katherine 'Kitty' Barry ( born 1848) ) from the New York House of Refuge. Barry's education was well catered for although he did not have the freedom to pursue his interests. She accompanied Blackwell on her many travels and remained with her until hers.