A Woman's Quest: The life of Marie E. Zakrzewska, M.D.Zakrzewska, Marie E. (Marie Elizabeth)
History
A Woman's Quest: The life of Marie E. Zakrzewska, M.D.
Zakrzewska, Marie E. (Marie Elizabeth)
Women physicians -- United States -- Biography; Zakrzewska, Marie E. (Marie Elizabeth), 1829-1902
At the Hospital further advance was made by the creation of the staff
position of assistant surgeon, Dr. Anita E. Tyng[11] receiving the
appointment. Thus for the first time in America the name of a woman
is listed officially as specializing in surgery. This year was also
notable for the addition of a second consulting physician, Dr. Henry I.
Bowditch accepting election.
Dr. Henry I. Bowditch was always an earnest supporter of the education
of women as physicians. He befriended Dr. Harriot K. Hunt and Dr.
Nancy Clark, and then Dr. Zakrzewska herself when the latter came to
Boston in 1856 soliciting money for opening the New York Infirmary.
He remained the steadfast champion of medical women and continued as
consulting physician to the New England Hospital until his death in
1892.
Dr. Zakrzewska realized the necessity of having on the consulting
staff of the Hospital men physicians of the highest standing in the
profession, such men serving as vouchers to the community for the
medical women and their hospital.
But aside from this vital consideration she also believed that the best
results follow when men and women work together. In this conviction she
was ably supported by Dr. Henry I. Bowditch, who wrote to her at one
time:
In regard to having a full corps of well-known experts, male and
female, connected with the hospital, I still have no doubt. As I think
there should be women physicians and surgeons in the other hospitals,
so I think it important for the fullest success to have a joint
corps at the women’s hospital. Also, I cannot but think it would be
beneficial pecuniarily to all the hospitals if such arrangements were
made.
Indeed, Dr. Bowditch was prepared to go even further, for in another
letter he expresses the opinion that all three hospitals--the New
England, the Massachusetts General and the City, should throw open
their clinical instruction to both men and women. Though he was still
conservative enough to advise that the clinics should be held at
different hours for the two sexes.
In spite of the increasing support given the Hospital, its financial
situation continued to cause anxiety. This was due to the need for
paying for the four buildings purchased, to the increased expenses of
the expanded institution, and to the disproportionately large amount of
service given free or at only nominal rates.
The acuteness of the problem continued to increase and in the following
year (1865-1866), although the mortgages had been paid off and the
general debt reduced, the institution was unable to pay its current
expenses.
To meet this situation a more conservative course was felt to be
imperative, and it was decided, except in Maternity cases, temporarily
to discontinue receiving any patients at a reduced rate except in the
free beds, those which were endowed or definitely subscribed for.
Dr. Tyng continued as assistant surgeon, and her progress was so
satisfactory that Dr. Storer writes:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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