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PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Outstanding Women in Medicine
in History and Bexar County
By Leah Jacobson, MD, 2017 BCMS President
“If society will not admit of woman’s free development, then society must be remodeled.”
-Elizabeth Blackwell, MD
In honor of our Women in Medicine event, I reflected on the many women physicians.
women who blazed a path — in the United States and worldwide. Our primary activity is the annual “Women In Medicine Appre-
As a female physician—and, according to the Association of Amer-
ican Medical Colleges, one of over 281,000 active women doctors in ciation Dinner" which is held in November. The AMA's 2017 theme
the United States — I am deeply grateful to the courage of British- was “Women in medicine: Born to lead.” In that tradition, the Bexar
born Blackwell. She was, in fact, one of several women medical pio- County Women In Medicine committee is proud to recognize 20+
neers around the world. Brazilian obstetrician, Dr. Marie Durocher outstanding women in their fields. At this year's event which is
(1809–1893), was the first female physician in Latin America. Gyne- being held at the University of the Incarnate Word's Sky Room, Dr.
cologist, Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi, became Nigeria’s first female Colleen Bridger, the health director for the Metropolitan Health
doctor (1940s). When I think about the diverse career paths achieved Department, will deliver a State of Health in San Antonio presen-
by women armed with a medical education — from academia and tation and serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies.
research to global health and government — I am filled with inspira-
tion and admiration. Over the past century, we have seen Dr. Barbara The women that are being recognized represent a large cross-sec-
Ross-Lee become the first African American female Dean of a U.S. tion of the health care industry, including many of the large health
medical school; Dr. Virginia Apgar revolutionized neonatology; Dr. care systems, academic institutions, and private groups. Some of
Antonia Novello became the first female (as well as Hispanic) U.S. those recognized are Dr. Jennifer Rushton of Clinical Pathology
Surgeon General (Dr. Joycelyn Elders was the first African American Associates - she was recently elected to represent TMA as an AMA-
U.S. Surgeon General); and Dr. Margaret Chan was elected as the di- alternate delegate; Dr. Teresa Ruiz, medical director of Community
rector-general of the World Health Organization. First Health Plans; Dr. Kristi Clark of Health Texas and a BCMS
Board of Directors member; Dr. Corinne Bell of the University of
Today we are witnessing a larger percentage of women physicians Incarnate Word School of Medicine; and Dr. Nida Emko of UT-
in the U.S., up from 9.7% in 1970 to 32% in 2010. Nearly 50% of Health San Antonio Family and Community Medicine Department.
medical students are female, however only one-third of practicing I would like to congratulate all of our recipients. They are all very
physicians are women. Specialties such as cardiology and orthopedics deserving. I hope that they will get involved, or more involved, with
remain male-dominated. Historically and presently, in many parts of the Bexar County Medical Society.
the world, women's participation in the profession of medicine (as
physicians or surgeons for instance) has been significantly restricted. I have been very fortunate to be a part of this committee for
However, women's informal practice of medicine in roles such as most of its existence, starting as a medical student member, over
caregivers or as allied health professionals has been widespread. 20 years ago. It is a part of the Medical Society that holds a special
place in my heart.
Twenty-seven years ago, the American Medical Association es-
tablished September as Women in Medicine month. Each year, the We must continue to cultivate today’s female medical profession-
AMA Women Physicians Section (WPS) honors physicians who als into leaders of tomorrow and of generations to come. The chal-
have offered their time, wisdom and support to advance women lenges of navigating unknown paths may seem daunting, but the
with careers in medicine. The Bexar County Medical Society has rewards can be transformative — as eloquently articulated by Dr.
supported a Women in Medicine committee for 25 of those years. Blackwell: “It is not easy to be a pioneer — but oh, it is fascinating!
The purpose of the committee is to promote women leaders in I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the
medicine, recruit and retain women members in Bexar County Med- riches in the world.”
ical Society and the TMA, and address special needs and issues for
Sincerely,
Leah H. Jacobson, MD, 2017 BCMS President
8 San Antonio Medicine • November 2017
