Mary Harris Thompson was the first female surgeon in the United States and a pioneer in community health care. When Dr. Thompson came to Chicago. neither of the two hospitals then open would allow women on their medical staffs. and one would not admit women or children as patients. Chicago. at the time. was a thriving frontier town whose development had outpaced the growth of its health and sanitary facilities. The city was crowded with refugees uprooted by the Civil War. in addition to large numbers of needy soldiers wives. widows. and orphans. Consequently. there was a tremendous need for medical care. Dr.
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