International Women’s Day 2025: 7 Most Influential Women in the History of Medicine

Oftentimes in the face of discrimination, women in medicine have made great medical contributions. Throughout history, women have played a critical role in healthcare advancement by overcoming barriers to make a lot of groundbreaking contributions.

Despite limited access to education in the past, many have traced the odds and revolutionized the field of healthcare, which includes surgery, pharmacology, nursing and medical research. Their dedication continues even till today to inspire women of future generations in the field of medicine. 

Here are some of the most influential women of history in life sciences and their outstanding attainments, leadership, and contributions that continue to inspire generations and save countless lives:

1. Florence Nightingale (1820-1910)

Florence Nightingale is the Founder of modern nursing, also referred to as "The Lady with the Lamp."  Nightingale also revolutionized nursing during the Crimean War by executing hygiene practices that drastically declined infection rates. She founded the Nightingale Training School for Nurses and created a professional pathway in healthcare for women. 

2. Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to shatter barriers to receive a medical degree in the United States in 1849. She supported women in medicine and founded the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. She also provided care to underserved communities and offered training opportunities for female physicians.

3. Marie Curie (1867-1934)

Marie Curie is a pioneer in the field of radiation research. She is the first person to receive Nobel prizes in two scientific fields and her research in the field of radioactivity earned two Nobel Prizes in Physics(1903) and Chemistry(1911). The discovery of radium and polonium (the heavy metals in the periodic table) has laid the foundation for cancer treatments and also medical imaging technologies. The development of mobile X-ray units by Curie during World War I has saved countless lives on the battlefield.

4.Clara Barton(1831-1912)

Clara Barton's passion for helping others, and dedication of her fearless service during the American Civil War, earned her the nickname the "Angel of the Battlefield" for delivering medical support for wounded soldiers. She later established the American Red Cross in 1881. Her commitment to disaster relief and humanitarian assistance set an ongoing organization that continues till today to provide life-saving assistance globally.

5. Gerty Cori (1896-1957)

Gerty Cori was the first woman to win a Nobel award in physiology/Medicine for her work on carbohydrate metabolism. Carl Ferdinand Cori, her husband, with whom she shared interest in preclinical science and proved vital concepts in genetics. Their dedication towards work has led to the discovery that an enzyme deficiency could be a reason for metabolic disorders. They further carried out studies on the hormone actions of the pituitary gland. Throughout her lifetime, Gerty Cori has earned a lot of awards in recognition of her contributions in the field of science.

6. Virginia Apgar (1909-1974)

Virginia Apgar is considered the creator of the Apgar score, which is a quick and also effective tool used to assess a newborn's health immediately after birth. The Apgar score is meant for reducing infant mortality rates considerably. The clinical condition of newborns in the first few minutes of life is assessed by the Apgars score even today. Apgar was the first woman to evolve as a full professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. This innovation in 1952 has revolutionized the neonatal care with the help of a standardized method to determine infants who need urgent medical attention. Her contributions have saved millions of lives and remain as a cornerstone of modern obstetrics.

7. Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958)

Rosalind Franklin has played a crucial role in uncovering the structure of DNA with the help of X-ray diffraction. This has led to an evidence-based discovery of the double helix that led to advancements in the field of medicine and genetics. She also gave her contributions in pioneering research of RNA viruses that include the Tobacco Mosaic Virus. Her work and dedication have laid a foundation for molecular biology and modern genetics.

The outstanding contributions of these women have reshaped the healthcare and brought up a change to modern lives globally. Their dedication and courage are an inspiration to every woman even today. Let us praise the contributions not just for today, March 8th, but also recall them a lifetime.

International Women’s Day is annually observed on March 8th every year. The theme for 2025 is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” ^[5]

References:

1. Hogg, Peter. "The 10 Most Influential Women in the History of Medicine." Bai Proclinical, Part of Acalcium Group, March 8, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.proclinical.com/blogs/2020-3/10-most-influential-women-in-history-of-science-and-medicine.

2. "Top 7 Most Influential Women in Healthcare." Medical English Blog, Specialist Language Courses, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://specialistlanguagecourses.com/knowledge-bank/medical-english-blog/.

3. "Women Pioneers in Medicine." American Neurological Association, 2025. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://myana.org/about/dei/women-pioneers-in-medicine/. International Women’s Day 2025

4. Earls, Bailey. "10 Women in History Who Revolutionized Healthcare." Open Loop Blog, March 21, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2025.

5. United Nations. "International Women's Day." United Nations. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day.

By Dr. Lakshmisahithi Tanneru

_MSM