First Female American Indian Doctor

November 22, 2009

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Profile America — Sunday, November 22nd. As the celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month continues, the accomplishments of many pioneering men and women of the past are being honored. One of these is Susan La Flesche, an Omaha Indian from Nebraska, who became the first female American Indian physician in 1889. After graduating at the head of her class at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, La Flesche returned to Nebraska, where she married, raised a family and built the first Indian hospital in the state. More than three-quarters of American Indians and Alaska Natives 25 and older have a high school diploma. And 13 percent have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in college. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Native American History, Judith Nies, p. 296
www.nim.nih.gov
U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB08-FF.18
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/012782.html