Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth Blackwell, circa 1855

She had done what no other woman in the U.S. had done before. On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell received her Medical Degree.

The journey had been long and arduous. When Elizabeth first thought of applying, some friends encouraged her to do so as a man. She refused. She studied, found mentors, and diligently applied for admission as herself. Twenty-nine applications. Twenty-nine rejections. Then, in one program, the admission board, unable to decide, handed the decision to the all-male student body. The students thought the application was a joke and unanimously admitted her. But a joke, it wasn't. Elizabeth accepted. She attended the program, finishing first in her class.

At the graduation ceremony, the graduates walked on stage. To each, the Dean conferred the diploma, sitting down. But as Elizabeth approached, he rose from his seat and handed her the diploma. Then he bowed to her.

"I thank you Sir. It shall be the effort of my life, by God's blessing, to shed honor on this diploma," Elizabeth said to the Dean. Then she bowed back.