SHEis Amazing Profile: Ann Preston – The Trailblazer Who Refused to Be Shut Out of Medicine

Quick Facts

Born: December 1, 1813 • West Grove, Pennsylvania
Died: April 18, 1872 (aged 58) • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Known For:
- First woman dean of a medical school in the U.S.
- Champion for women’s medical education
- Founder of the Woman’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Instrumental in the creation of the first women’s medical college
- Led the fight for women to have clinical access to hospitals

Legacy

Ann Preston shattered barriers in the medical field by advocating for women’s right to become doctors. As the first female dean of a medical school in the United States, she laid the groundwork for generations of women in medicine. Her commitment to equality in medical education helped open doors that had long been closed to women.

Trailblazing Achievements

Black-and-white portrait of Ann Preston, a pioneering 19th-century physician and advocate for women's medical education. — Ann Preston, the first female dean of a U.S. medical school, fought tirelessly for women’s right to train as doctors.

Early Life and Education

Born into a Quaker family in Pennsylvania, Ann Preston was raised in an environment that valued education and social justice. Despite societal norms that discouraged women from pursuing higher education, she found her calling in medicine. She studied privately under Dr. Joseph Longshore before enrolling in the newly founded Female Medical College of Pennsylvania (later renamed the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania) in 1850. She graduated in 1851 as part of the college’s first class of female physicians.

Founding the Woman’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Recognizing the lack of opportunities for women physicians to gain hands-on clinical experience, Preston helped establish the Woman’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 1861. The hospital provided both medical care to women and a crucial training ground for female doctors, ensuring they received the same clinical experience as their male counterparts.

Becoming the First Woman Dean of a Medical School

In 1866, Preston was appointed dean of the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, making history as the first woman in the U.S. to hold such a position. As dean, she strengthened the curriculum and expanded opportunities for female medical students, ensuring they received rigorous and comprehensive training.

Fighting for Equal Access to Medical Training

One of Preston’s greatest battles was securing clinical access for women in male-dominated hospitals. In 1868, she led a group of female students to Pennsylvania Hospital, where they were met with hostility from male students and physicians who opposed their presence. Despite the resistance, Preston stood firm, advocating for women’s right to medical education. Her efforts eventually led to wider acceptance of women in clinical settings.

Controversies

Ann Preston faced fierce opposition from the male-dominated medical establishment. Many believed women were unfit for the medical profession and actively worked to exclude them from education and practice. The hostility toward female medical students culminated in the so-called “Jeering Episode” at Pennsylvania Hospital, where male students openly mocked and harassed them. Preston, however, remained unwavering in her mission, using these challenges as fuel for change.

In Her Own Words

Historical portrait of Ann Preston, pioneering 19th-century physician and advocate for women’s medical education.Historical portrait of Ann Preston, pioneering 19th-century physician and advocate for women’s medical education. — Ann Preston, a trailblazer in medicine, fought for women’s right to become doctors and led the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.

Preston’s words captured her unwavering determination:

“A woman can no more be denied the opportunity to study medicine than she can be denied the right to think.”
On women’s right to medical education.

“The door which has once been opened to women in medicine shall never be closed again.”
On the lasting impact of her work.

“If our cause is just, it will triumph in the end.”
Encouraging perseverance despite opposition.

Her Lasting Legacy

Ann Preston’s work paved the way for future generations of female doctors. Today, women make up a significant portion of the medical profession, a reality made possible by pioneers like her. The Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania continued to train women physicians for over a century, influencing the broader acceptance of women in medicine.

Her advocacy for equal medical education lives on in every woman who enters medical school and practices medicine without barriers. Organizations supporting women in medicine, such as the American Medical Women’s Association, continue to carry her legacy forward.

Personal Reflections

As a midwife, I deeply admire Ann Preston’s resilience and commitment to breaking barriers in healthcare. Her fight for equal education in medicine resonates with my own work advocating for informed choices and access to quality care for all women. Preston’s story reminds us that progress in healthcare has always been hard-won, and her unwavering spirit is an inspiration for anyone working to change the system from within.

Women like Ann Preston didn’t just open doors; they tore them off their hinges, ensuring that future generations of female healthcare providers could walk through without question. Her legacy is a powerful reminder that when women support women, history is made.

Key Milestones

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—- Stay Strong! Jaelin —-

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