Celebrating International Women’s Day

Please join us to celebrate International Women’s Day 2020

GIRLS COUNT: Equity in STEM

Thursday, 5 March, 1.00pm – 3.00pm

We are delighted that Anita Shervington, Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellow and Director of Community Perspectives will join us to mark International Women’s Day 2020.

Anita’s fellowship enables her to explore how science can be driven by social justice and powered by inclusive, equitable and culturally relevant research. She is inspired by the potential of STEM to improve the human condition and protect our planet, when driven by equity, diversity and inclusion and guided by Sustainable Development Goals.

The talk will take place in at the University, in Lecture Theatre B, University Place and will be followed by afternoon tea in University Place foyer.

1.00pm – 2.15pm: Guest Speaker followed by Q&A

2.15pm – 3.00pm: Networking

To attend the event please register in advance.

This special event is open to everyone – we look forward to seeing you there!

Delving into the archives for International Women’s Day: The first women graduates of Manchester Medical School

As International Women’s Day is fast approaching; Manchester Medical Museum volunteers have taken the opportunity to search through the archives to find more about the first female graduates from Manchester Medical School.

Of course, as with many Universities at the time, The University of Manchester (then called Manchester Victoria University) only admitted men on to many of their programmes. However, in 1880, Manchester Victoria University received a charter to enable them to admit persons, ‘male or female’. Unfortunately, this did not come into effect immediately; it took much campaigning by the Manchester Association for the Higher Education of Women until, in 1883, the University began to admit women into the arts and science departments. In 1898, the Medical School also began to admit women onto their programme. Here are some examples:

Catherine Chisholm BA MB ChB MD CBE FRCP (1878-1952)

The first woman to graduate from Manchester Medical School in 1904, Dr Chisholm then went on to work in maternity hospitals and children’s hospitals throughout her career. She help found the Medical Women’s Federation (1917) and the Manchester Paediatrics Society (1948) and was the first woman president of the British Paediatric Society.

Catherine Louisa Corbett MB ChB DPH (1877-1960)

Dr Corbett graduated and spent much of her career as a School Medical Inspector. However, when war broke out she faced it head on and joined the Scottish Women’s Hospitals to provide medical services for wounded soldiers in Serbia and Russia.

Ethel Margaret Phillips BSc MB ChB MSc (1876-1951)

After qualifying, Dr Phillips spent the majority of her life working in China, her mission was to improve the health and life of women and children – especially to fight tuberculosis, smallpox and malnutrition. Dr Phillips involved in not only medical work but also social work and joined feminist and political groups.