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WOMEN IN
MEDICINE

while fighting for human rights of Woman’s Medical College and made it a priority to improve her stu-
during the temperance and dents’ educational opportunities, despite the social climate that op-
abolition movements. By 1840, posed them. As the result of Preston’s efforts, by 1868 the students of
she had established instruction Woman’s Medical College were permitted to return to Philadelphia
for all-female health classes and and Pennsylvania hospitals to work alongside their male colleagues.
began informal training The opportunity for women to apply for admission, learn and work
through a medical apprentice- as equals is an accomplishment that was once unimaginable to the as-
ship. After being rejected by all piring female physician. Elizabeth Blackwell and Ann Preston are only
four medical schools in two examples among countless women throughout history who cham-
Philadelphia in 1847, Preston pioned women's roles in health care. Both women stood in direct op-
graduated as part of the inau- position to the social and societal expectations of their time to pursue
gural class of the Female (later careers in medicine. As of 2019, women now comprise the majority
Woman’s) Medical College of (50.5%) of medical students for the first time in history, a true testa-
Pennsylvania in 1851. Shortly ment to the evolution of their work and the legacy of their careers
after her graduation, the nearly two hundred years in the making.
Ann Preston
Philadelphia Medical Society
ruled that female physicians would no longer be permitted to train in Cara J. Schachter and Allison Foster are medical
clinics. Preston fought back, recruiting an all-women board that estab- students at the UT Health San Antonio Long School
lished the Woman’s Hospital, giving female students access to clinical of Medicine. Cara is a member of the BCMS Publi-
education. By 1866, Preston had risen to become the first female dean cations Committee.

ABCD Pediatrics, PA MacGregor Medical Center San Antonio
Dermatology Associates of San Antonio, PA MEDNAX
Diabetes & Glandular Disease Clinic, PA Peripheral Vascular Associates, PA

ENT Clinics of San Antonio, PA San Antonio Eye Center, PA
Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates, PA
General Surgical Associates San Antonio Infectious Diseases Consultants

Greater San Antonio Emergency Physicians, PA San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates, PA
Health Texas Medical Group South Texas Radiology Group, PA
Institute for Women’s Health South Texas Renal Care Group
Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care, PLLC Star Anesthesia (USAP Texas-South)
Lone Star OB-GYN Associates, PA The San Antonio Orthopaedic Group

M & S Radiology Associates, PA Urology San Antonio, PA

Contact BCMS today to join the 100% Membership Program! *100% member practice participation as of October 20, 2021.

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