The Blackwell Society, named in honor of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell our nation’s first female physician.
In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the nation’s first female doctor. Eight years later, she founded the first US hospital staffed entirely by women, which evolved into today’s NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. In 1868, she launched a medical college devoted entirely to the medical education of women, which was absorbed by what is today Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Blackwell changed the face of medical care and worked tirelessly to help other women succeed.
Today, on National Women Physicians Day, a portrait of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell will be unveiled at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital in the William Street Lobby. This portrait will honor Dr. Blackwell’s legacy as a pioneer in women’s leadership, service, diversity, and mentorship.
Dr. Blackwell’s legacy is very much alive today at Weill Cornell Medicine as we continue on our journey toward health equity, commit to providing the best care possible to diverse communities, and foster a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging.