Recognizing women in healthcare history
March is Women’s History Month, and Montage Health is honored to celebrate and appreciate the ways influential female figures have shaped the healthcare landscape. This month, we're highlighting women who have played an important role in healthcare history.
Dr. Virginia Apgar (1909–1974)
Dr. Virginia Apgar developed the Apgar Score, a quick and simple method to evaluate the health of newborns immediately after birth. Her innovation dramatically improved infant survival rates worldwide. Apgar’s work also advanced the field of neonatology and established standardized procedures for newborn assessment.
Clara Barton (1821–1912)
Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1880 after her work tending to soldiers on both sides during the American Civil War. Barton also established the National First Aid Association of America, which raised awareness around emergency preparedness and developed first aid kits.
During her time at the American Red Cross, she aided with countless disasters, helped the homeless and poor, and assisted many Americans in becoming more prepared for unforeseen hardships.
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910)
As the first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children with a mission to create more positions for women doctors. Despite facing years of discrimination and hardships, Blackwell was committed to creating opportunities for others by opening a medical college for women in New York City.
She was also the first American woman to publish a medical article, which was on the differences between how women and men treat patients.
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (1975–present)
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California's first surgeon general, is well-known for her relentless initiative to reduce adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress among young people. She is also the founder and former chief executive officer of the Center for Youth Wellness, a champion for healthcare equity, and she played a key role in California’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, especially among Black and other marginalized communities.
"Obstacles are everywhere. Success is about finding ways every day to go over, under, around, or through." — Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California's first surgeon general
Dr. Gerty Cori (1896–1957)
Dr. Gerty Cori was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, recognized for her work on the enzymatic conversion of glycogen and glucose metabolism. Her discoveries laid the foundation for understanding metabolic diseases, including diabetes, and demonstrated the critical role of women in groundbreaking medical research.
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–1895)
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first Black woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. She earned her degree during the American Civil War, graduating from New England Female Medical College in 1864.
She had a fierce passion for helping others, which she learned from her aunt. In her book titled A Book of Medical Discourses, she said, “Having been reared by a kind aunt in Pennsylvania, whose usefulness with the sick was continually sought, I early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to relieve, the sufferings of others.”
Florence Nightingale (1820–1910)
Florence Nightingale revolutionized nursing in the mid 19th century. During her time aiding British soldiers during the Crimean war in Turkey, Nightingale improved sanitary conditions so drastically that mortality rates decreased from 40 percent to 2 percent. Her improvements were adopted by hospitals around Britain.
After the war, she opened the Nightingale School of Nursing at St. Thomas' Hospital in London in 1860 and trained midwives and nurses in workhouse infirmaries.
Mary Seacole (1805–1881)
Mary Seacole was a pioneering nurse and healer from Jamaica who provided care to soldiers during the Crimean War. Despite racial prejudice that blocked her from joining Florence Nightingale’s team, Seacole independently traveled to the front lines and established the “British Hotel,” a place where soldiers received food, medicine, and comfort.
Her hands-on approach combined traditional Caribbean remedies with modern medical practices, and her tireless dedication earned her the admiration of soldiers and colleagues alike. Seacole later wrote Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, one of the earliest firsthand accounts of nursing during wartime.
Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig (1898–1986)
Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig is considered the founder of pediatric cardiology. She co-developed the “blue baby” procedure, which successfully treated congenital heart defects, saving countless lives. She overcame significant personal challenges, including partial deafness, and her research and advocacy transformed care for children with heart conditions.
