Elizabeth Blackwell

Look at the Google search results, Click on the link that is most likely to have information about the life and achievements of Doctor Elizabeth Blackwell.

• Elizabeth J. Blackwell — Film Archivewww.filmarchive.com/eblackwell_(film)Elizabeth Blackwell, (born Nov 2, 2002) is a child actress who is famous for her appearance in the series of movies, “Magic Mischief”

• Doctor Elizabeth Blackwell — Her Storywww.womenshistory.org/dreblackwellDoctor Elizabeth Blackwell, (3 February 1821 – 31 May 1910) is recognized as the first woman to become a doctor in the United States of America...

• Elizabeth Blackwell Medalwww.elizabethblackwellmedal.orgThe Elizabeth Blackwell Medal is an award given to a doctor who shows exceptional...

• Doctor Blackwell visits the jungle – Blossom Bookswww.blossonmbooks.com/blackwellDoctor Blackwell visits the jungle is a children’s picture book by Sarah Schubert. Published in 2010...

Doctor Elizabeth Blackwell

Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell is famous for being the first woman to become a doctor in both America and England. She then trained many more female doctors and nurses and helped set up new hospitals and a medical college.

Timeline 1821-1910

1821 - Born 3 February in Bristol, England, Elizabeth is the third of nine children.

1832 - Elizabeth’s family moves to New York, America.

1847 - Elizabeth is accepted into Geneva Medical College, New York to study medicine.

1849 - Elizabeth finishes university at the top of her class and is the first woman ever to receive a medical degree in America. Elizabeth travels to France where she works at La Maternité Hospital.

When did Elizabeth’s family move to New York?

• 1821

• 1832

• 1847

• 1849

Doctor Elizabeth Blackwell

Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell is famous for being the first woman to become a doctor in both America and England. She then trained many more female doctors and nurses and helped set up new hospitals and a medical college.

Timeline 1821-1910

1821 - Born 3 February in Bristol, England, Elizabeth is the third of nine children.

1832 - Elizabeth’s family moves to New York, America.

1847 - Elizabeth is accepted into Geneva Medical College, New York to study medicine.

(Geneva Medical College: Geneva Medical College was founded on September 15, 1834, in Geneva, New York. The college was bought by the State University of New York in 1950.)

1849 - Elizabeth finishes university at the top of her class and is the first woman ever to receive a medical degree in America. Elizabeth travels to France where she works at La Maternité Hospital.

In what year was Geneva Medical College founded?

1857 - Elizabeth travels back to America and opens up her own clinic, The New York Infirmary.

1861 - Elizabeth trains nurses who will treat injured soldiers fighting in the Civil War in the United States.

1869 - Elizabeth returns to England and opens a clinic in London, becoming the first female doctor in England.

1874 - Elizabeth helps to create the London School of Medicine for Women.

1875 - Elizabeth becomes a professor at the London School of Medicine for Children, and works there until she is 86 years old.

1910 - Elizabeth dies at the age of 89 on 31 May at home in England.

According to the timeline, what did Elizabeth do in 1874?

What is an advantage of presenting the events in Elizabeth’s life in a timeline?

• It gives detailed information about her.

• It shows the events in order of importance.

• It lets readers choose what to read first.

• It lists the events in the order they took place.

A LADY DOCTOR? You Must Be Joking!

Doctor Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth’s Goal

Less than 200 years ago, women were not allowed to work as doctors or study medicine at colleges or universities. Elizabeth Blackwell was a young Englishwoman living in America in the 1840s. A friend who was very sick told Elizabeth how much she wished her doctor could be a woman. This wish inspired Elizabeth to become a doctor. She started trying to get into medical school.

Applying

Elizabeth contacted every medical school in the New York area – 29 altogether! The staff of every school said the same thing “No! A lady doctor? You must be joking!”

Finally a small school called Geneva Medical College decided to let the students vote on whether to let Elizabeth in. The staff assumed the students would say no. But the students thought it was a joke and voted “yes.” So, the College let Elizabeth in.

The title of the text is “A lady doctor? You must be joking!” Which two groups of people treated the idea of a lady doctor as a joke?

Applying

Elizabeth contacted every medical school in the New York area – 29 altogether! The staff of every school said the same thing “No! A lady doctor? You must be joking!”

Finally a small school called Geneva Medical College decided to let the students vote on whether to let Elizabeth in. The staff assumed the students would say no. But the students thought it was a joke and voted “yes.” So, the College let Elizabeth in.

Elizabeth contacted every medical school in the New York area – 29 altogether!” Why is there an exclamation point (“!”) used in the sentence above?

• to show that Elizabeth was lucky to have so many schools to choose from

• to show the number of medical schools in the New York area

• to show how difficult it was for a woman to get into medical school

• to show that Elizabeth could not find a school she liked

Studying

At the beginning, it was difficult for Elizabeth. The women in town thought she was strange and ignored her. Some teachers would not let her stay and watch the surgery classes. This only made Elizabeth work harder.

When her college years came to an end, she finished with the best grades in the class. She had also earned the respect of her teachers and classmates.

Some teachers would not let her stay and watch the surgery classes.”

How did Elizabeth react to this?

Practicing

Within a few years of Elizabeth leaving college, more than 20 women throughout the country were studying in medical schools, including Elizabeth’s younger sister, Emily.

America, however, was still not ready for a “lady doctor.” No hospital in America would hire Elizabeth, so she travelled to France to work in a hospital there. Elizabeth worked hard and started studying to become a surgeon. However, she became ill and lost sight in one eye and had to give up her dream of becoming a surgeon. Despite this, she kept working hard as a general doctor.

Why did Elizabeth have to give up her dream of becoming a surgeon?

Practicing

Within a few years of Elizabeth leaving college, more than 20 women throughout the country were studying in medical schools, including Elizabeth’s younger sister, Emily.

America, however, was still not ready for a “lady doctor.” No hospital in America would hire Elizabeth, so she travelled to France to work in a hospital there. Elizabeth worked hard and started studying to become a surgeon. However, she became ill and lost sight in one eye and had to give up her dream of becoming a surgeon. Despite this, she kept working hard as a general doctor.

Think of everything you have read on the website “A Lady Doctor? You must be joking!”

Give two examples that show how Elizabeth Blackwell did not give up and kept trying.