Women in Health and Medicine
Mary Carson Breckinridge (Leslie, 1881-1965)
Breckinridge started the Frontier Nursing Service in 1925, to provide maternal and infant care in southeastern Kentucky. F.N.S. later expanded into 8 outpost clinics and a hospital in Hyden.
Visit the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing and view the stamp commemorating Mary Breckinridge.
Mary Britton (Fayette, 1855-1925)
The first African American woman to practice medicine in Lexington, Britton provided medical care from her home in Lexington between the years of 1904-1923. She was also an educator and on the board of the Colored Orphans Home.
Dr. Louise Caudill (Rowan, 1912-1998)
One of the most beloved family physicians in Morehead for over 50 years. She spearheaded the founding of St. Claire Hospital.
Jane Todd Crawford (Green, 1763-1842)
In 1809, Crawford was the first person to have abdominal surgery successfully performed on her without anesthesia. The 60-mile route that she took from her home to her doctor’s is now named the Jane Todd Crawford Trail in her honor.
Louise Frances Gilman Hutchins, M.D. (Madison, 1911-1996)
Berea’s only pediatrician between 1939-1967, she also worked with the Mountain Maternal Health League at a time when few physicians in the U.S. were concerned about women’s health issues.
Grace Marilyn James, M.D. (Jefferson, 1923-1989)
A Louisville pediatrician who became the first African American woman to obtain membership in the Jefferson County Medical Society and to teach at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Dr. Grace James’ papers can be found at the Archives and Records Center, University of Louisville, Women's Manuscript Collections Project.
Lucy Dupey Montz, D.M.D. (Gallatin, 1842-1922)
The first woman dentist in Kentucky.
Linda Neville (Knott, 1873-1961)
Fought to bring treatment for the disease trachoma to remote areas of Kentucky. Due to her efforts this disease, which often causes blindness, was virtually eradicated from the area in 1952.
Ora Framer Porter (Warren, 1880-1970)
Born in Bowling Green she became their first registered nurse. She graduated from Tuskegee Institute School of Nursing in 1904.
Sarah Richardson, M.D. (Hart, 1870-1941)
In the early 1900s Richardson successfully removed a cancerous breast from a woman patient, the first such surgery of its kind. She remained in practice in Hart County for 41 years.
Winnie A. Scott (Franklin, 1870-1920)
In 1915, Winnie A. Scott Hospital opened in Frankfort, the only medical facility serving African Americans until King's Daughters Hospital opened in 1959. It was named for Scott, a local school teacher instrumental in establishing the hospital.
Lillian H. South, M.D. (Whitley, 1879-1966)
A physician in Williamsburg who spent forty years as the bacteriologist of the Kentucky State Board of Health. She frequently lectured and wrote about public health.
Louise Southgate, M.D. (Kenton, 1857-1941)
Southgate was a physician as well as a suffragist. She began her practice in Covington in 1894.
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