Women's History Month

The CFC is celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting Women pioneers of modern medicine who have transformed the landscape of medicine with their ingenuity and inventiveness while paving the way for women everywhere.

Mary Putnam Jacobi

The Debunking of Menstruation Myths

Mary Putnam, daughter of American author George Putnam, was born in 1842. Putnam’s interest in biology started as a young child. At 22, she earned a medical degree from the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1864. Determined to obtain a better education, she became the first woman to study at l’École de Médecine in Paris. Mary was a proponent of equal education for women, arguing that women's medical schools could not provide an equivalent clinical experience. In 1872, she established the Association for the Advancement of Women in Medicine in order to fight against inequality. 

In 1872, Putnam married Dr. Abraham Jocobi who would later come to be known as the “Father of American Pediatrics.'' Abraham strongly advocated for his wife, and was instrumental in her membership in medical societies of New York including the New York Academy of Medicine, where she was the first woman admitted.

 In spite of her many achievements she was most known for debunking myths about menstruation. In 1876, Mary Jacobi wrote "The Question of Rest for Women during Menstruation," in which she disproved the supposed physical limitations of women during menstruation, a myth perpetuated by a Harvard Professor that suggested exertion, including study, during menstruation was dangerous.

Dr. Jacobi’s paper provided indisputable proof of the stability of a woman's health, strength, and agility throughout her monthly cycle.

Patricia Goldman-Rakic

The First Brain Map

Patricia Goldman-Rakic is responsible for the groundbreaking research which led to the understanding of many brain disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia. In 1963, Goldman-Rakic graduated from UCLA with a PhD in developmental psychology.

Shortly after she began her research at the National Institute of Mental Health where she would become the first to map the prefrontal cortex in the brain at a time when the prefrontal cortex was considered inaccessible to scientific analysis due to its location at the front of the skull. This breakthrough helped shed light on crucial functions like cognition, planning, and working memory. Over the course of her career she published over 200 papers and won numerous honors, including admission to the National Academy of Sciences in 1990.

Dr. Goldman-Rakic unfortunately died prematurely from complications caused by being struck by a car, however her colleagues note that she still had more to contribute if she were still here. “Her discoveries and insights into brain function have forever changed our understanding of the mind and brain,” said Susan Hockfield, provost of Yale University. 

Antonia Novello

First Women Surgeon General

In 1990, Antonia Novello became not only the first woman, but the first individual of Hispanic descent to become U.S. Surgeon General. Novello suffered from a congenital digestive condition as a child in Puerto Rico. Her family struggled to afford her treatment; this experience motivated her to study medicine and ensure that health care was available to everyone.

Novello graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a degree in medicine, and initially pursued pediatrics but found the field too emotionally draining. She pursued a career in public health instead, eventually rising through the ranks at the National Institute of Health and catching the attention of the White House.

As surgeon general, Novello put a focus on protecting the young and vulnerable, attacking issues like underaged drinking and cigarette ads that targeted children. She devoted her career to addressing health inequities among low-income and minority population groups.