The Evolution of Women in Surgery: Defying Barriers and Shaping Medical History

02 Oct 2024

By: Andrea Iturralde, MD

Women in surgery have been in a constant state of evolution. In the early history of medicine, women played a fundamental role in surgery, but by the Middle Ages, they were forbidden from practicing. Despite these restrictions, women found ways to remain involved, demonstrating that when a woman has a dream and a strong desire, she doesn’t let go. 

In Greek mythology, Asclepius, the god of healing, married Epione. They had five immortal daughters and two mortal sons. Their daughters—Hygieia, Aceso, Iaso, Aegle, and Panacea—were all physicians who represented different stages of the healing process and pharmaceutical treatment (Filippou et al., 2020). In the 11th and 12th centuries, another remarkable woman, Trota of Salerno (also known as Trotula), contributed as a practitioner and writer to the medical field. She was part of the Medical School of Salerno and was responsible for important advances in education and knowledge about diseases and treatments for women (Bifulco et al., 2019).

A 15th-century English proverb stated, “The ideal surgeon should have the eye of an eagle, the heart of a lion, and the hands of a woman.” This likely alludes to the healing touch of women, as our hands can treat illness and care for patients.

Women persevered even during male-dominated eras when they were actively discouraged from practicing surgery. Despite the many closed doors, women persisted in pursuing medical and surgical residencies. With strength and sacrifice, they have broken down these barriers. For example, during the Napoleonic Wars, Margaret Anne Bulkley, known as Dr. James Barry, served as a surgeon in the army. She studied at Edinburgh Medical School, posing as a man, and became a highly skilled surgeon who performed the first successful cesarean section. She was believed to be a man until her death when her female anatomy and signs of a previous pregnancy were discovered (Wirtzfeld, 2009). She was willing to change everything about her life rather than give up on her dream.

Another pioneer in medicine was Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, who graduated from Geneva Medical College as the first female physician in the U.S. in 1849, nearly 80 years after the first medical school was established in the country. From Dr. Blackwell to Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen, the first female surgeon admitted to the American College of Surgeons in 1913, to Dr. Kathryn Steimson, the first woman certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1940, women have brilliantly overcome obstacles. Acts of bravery and tenacity, such as those of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army, and of determination, like Dr. Jennie Smillie Robertson, who established the Women’s College Hospital and served as its chair of gynecology for 30 years (Wirtzfeld, 2009), demonstrate the capacity of women to defy the status quo and overcome adversity.

All these remarkable women exemplify our bravery, brilliance, and determination, proving that we are capable of achieving anything despite obstacles and challenges. We have always been—and continue to be—an integral force in the evolution of medicine and surgery.

  1. Wirtzfeld D. A. (2009). The history of women in surgery. Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie, 52(4), 317–320. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2724816/ 
  2. Filippou, D., Tsoucalas, G., Panagouli, E., Thomaidis, V., & Fiska, A. (2020). Machaon, Son of Asclepius, the Father of Surgery. Cureus, 12(2), e7038. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7038
  3. Bifulco, M., De Falco, D. D., Aquino, R. P., & Pisanti, S. (2019). Trotula de Ruggiero: The Magistra mulier sapiens and her medical dermatology treatises. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 18(6), 1613–1616. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12882

 

I am an International Medical Graduate (IMG) from Ecuador, currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Neurosciences Department at the University of New Mexico. I am applying for General Surgery in the 2026 match. I am passionate about addressing surgical disparities and improving access to surgery in low-income countries. Outside of medicine, I enjoy photography, painting, and exploring the outdoors. 

One Reply to “The Evolution of Women in Surgery: Defying Barriers and Shaping Medical History”

  1. You need to do better research. Bertha can Housen was not the first woman in the ACS. Check out a recent AvS Bulletin on the first five. They were all surgeons at the New England Hosptal for Women and Children. Jane Petro Md

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