Elizabeth Blackwell was the first female doctor in the modern era

On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell received the degree of "Doctor of Medicine" from Geneva Medical College, making her the first woman to graduate from medical school and the first female doctor in the modern era. Rejected by all the leading schools because of her sex, Blackwell applied to Geneva Medical College where her application was accepted only after being endorsed by the current students who thought it was a joke. Through hard work and dedication, however, she earned the respect of her classmates and graduated first in her class. After running a private practice for many years, Elizabeth opened a Women's Medical College to help other women achieve the dream of becoming a doctor.