Today is National Women Physicians Day
February 3, 2-26
Today is National Women Physicians Day. It’s a day to recognize how far we have come in medicine – and yet how far we still have to go.
This year, we partnered with the Medical Women’s International Association on a screening of 1001 CUTS, a compelling film that exposes the perasive gender inequities which still persist in medicine, particularly in surgery.
Two time AMWA President Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber shared her reflection with us on the significance of today.
“February 3rd birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, is an appropriate day to celebrate as she became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States in 1849.
By commemorating this milestone and celebrating her trailblazing spirit we recognize the strength, spirit, and continued expertise that women have used to continue to make a difference in medicine.
Emily Blackwell, Elizabeth’s younger sister, was the second woman, after Nancy Talbot Clark, to earn a medical degree from what is now Case Western Reserve University. Though impressive achievements, the numbers of women entering medical schools were low. In 1929 4% of medical students were women and in 1970 only 11%. After the passage of Title IX Amendment of the Higher Education Act, co-authored by Patsy Matsu Mink, the numbers began to increase until today most U.S medical schools have over 50% women in their medical school classes.
What Patsy Mink, a lawyer who served in the US House of Representatives for Hawaii, did with her colleagues by passing title IX, changed educational policies and practices by prohibiting sex discrimination.
The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) has been on the forefront of advocating for women physicians, future physicians, and health for women and their families since 1915. Continued work is needed as we work to increase representation and action at all levels of medical leadership. AMWA celebrates those women and men who came before and started the path, those who work beside us to widen the path and lighten the journey, and those who will come after who will continue to push forward creating new opportunities.
Celebrate with us and send your physician a note of support!”