Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Jennie Trout (21 April 1841 – 10 November 1921) was the first woman in Canada to become a licensed medical doctor, on 11 March 1875. Trout was the only woman in Canada licensed to practice medicine until July 1880, when Emily Stowe completed the official qualifications.
Life and Career
She was born on 21 April 1841, in Kelso, Scotland. She was the first woman in Canada to become a licensed medical doctor and played a significant role in advancing women’s rights in Canada.
Jennie Trout began her medical studies at the Toronto School of Medicine in 1865, becoming the first woman to be admitted to the school. She later transferred to the Women’s Medical College in Pennsylvania and graduated with a medical degree in 1875. Upon returning to Canada, Trout struggled to gain acceptance as a female physician, but eventually opened her own medical practice in Toronto. She became known for her work in obstetrics and gynecology and was also an advocate for women’s health and education.
In addition to her medical career, Jennie Trout was a vocal advocate for women’s rights. She was a member of the Toronto Women’s Literary Club and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and was involved in the suffrage movement. She was also a published author, writing several articles and books on medical topics, as well as a memoir of her experiences as a female physician.
Jennie Trout died on 10 November 1921, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 80. She was buried in Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Award and Legacy
she was the first female physician licensed to practice medicine in Canada. She received her license from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Ontario in 1875. 11 March is now celebrated as Canadian Women Physicians Day to honor women’s achievements in medicine and marks the day when Dr. Jennie Trout became the first woman licensed to practice medicine in Canada.
Jennie Trout’s legacy as a trailblazer in Canadian medicine and women’s rights continues to inspire generations of Canadians. Her pioneering work in the field of medicine, as well as her advocacy for women’s health and education, paved the way for future generations of female physicians and women’s rights activists.
On 21 April 2018, Google celebrated Jennie Trout’s 177th Birthday with a doodle.