Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania

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The Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (founded in 1850), also known as MCP, was the first medical institution in the world established to train women in medicine and offer them the M.D.[1] Originally called The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, the college changed its name to Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1867. The associated Woman’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1861.

The college built a new campus in East Falls in the 1920s, which combined teaching and the clinical care of a hospital in one overall facility. It was the first purpose-built hospital in the nation. In 1993, the college and hospital merged with Hahnemann Medical School. In 2003, the two colleges were absorbed by the Drexel University College of Medicine.

Contents

Founding [edit]

Sources disagree on the founders of the college. Clara Marshall (1847-1931), graduate of MCP and dean from 1888-1917, considered the founder of the school to be Bartholomew Fussel, M.D.[2] Other students considered Joseph S. Longshore and William J. Mullen to be the primary founders.[2] Most considered these three men, whether official founder or not, to be instrumental in the creation of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania.[2]

The Feminist Movement during the early to mid 19th century contributed to support for the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania. The Society of Friends in Philadelphia, a large group of Quakers, were supportive of the women’s rights movements and the development of the Female MCP.[3]

MCP was first located in the rear of 229 Arch Street, Philadelphia, (the address was later changed to 627 Arch Street when Philadelphia renumbered streets in 1858).[4] In July 1861, the board of corporators of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania chose rent rooms for the College from the Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia on North College Avenue.[5]

Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia [edit]

In part to provide clinical experience for WMC students, a group of Quaker women, particularly Ann Preston, founded the Woman’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 1861.[6] Its purposes were to “establish in the City of Philadelphia a Hospital for the treatment of diseases of women and children, and for obstetrical cases; furnishing at the same time facilities for clinical instruction to women engaged in the study of medicine, and for the practical training of nurses; the chief resident physician to be a woman.”[7] Though most medical care in the 19th century occurred at home or in a practitioner’s office, the “teaching hospital” could provide, as “clinical material,” many patients gathered in one place for some time, who could be examined while the course of their diseases were observed.[6]

Woman’s Hospital accepted its first patient, to the “Lying In Department (maternity),” on December 16, 1861.[6] By April 1862, twelve patients occupied beds.[8] The Woman’s Hospital grew steadily; by 1875 it housed 37 beds, treated nearly 2,000 patients at their homes (with visits carried out largely by students), and saw more than 3,000 visitors in its dispensary.[9] Women and children were admitted “without regard to their religious belief, nationality, or color.” They generally did not accept pregnant women who were unwed. At least one woman staff physician pleaded for “sympathizing care,” saying it could do more to change a life than moralistic rejection.[10]

In 1867, the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania legally changed its name to Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.[11] In 1874, the College began construction of its own building, thanks to an earlier bequest of Isaac Barton, one of the corporators.[12] The new location was adjacent to the Woman’s Hospital of Pennsylvania on North College Avenue. The architecture contract was given to Addison Hutton.[12]

Issues in clinical training [edit]

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania faced difficulties in providing clinical training for its students.[13] Almost all medical institutions were confronted with the demand for more clinical practice due to the rise of surgery, physical diagnosis, and clinical specialties.[14] During the 1880s, clinical instruction at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania relied mainly on the demonstration clinics.[13]

In 1887, Anna Broomall, professor of obstetrics for the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, established a maternity outpatient service in a poor area of South Philadelphia for the purpose of student education.[13] By 1895, many students cared for three or four women who were giving birth.[15]

East Falls campus and Drexel University [edit]

In the late 1920s, the college raised money to build a new campus, designed by Ritter & Shay, the most successful of the Philadelphia urban architecture firms in the 1920s. The East Falls Campus was the first purpose-built hospital in the nation. The design allowed both teaching and hospital care to take place in one facility, helping provide for more clinical care. Post-WWII housing shortages in the city were a catalyst for development of additions to the East Falls Campus, the first of which was the Ann Preston Building (designed by Thaddeus Longstreth), which provided housing and classrooms for student nurses.

Falls Center
Front of the Falls Center

Today, the building is known as the Falls Center. It is operated by Iron Stone Strategic Capital Partners as student housing, commercial space, and medical offices.[16]

In 1993 the Medical College of Pennsylvania merged with Hahnemann Medical College, retaining its Queen Lane campus. In 2003, the two medical colleges were absorbed as a part of Drexel University College of Medicine, creating new opportunities for the large student body for clinical practice in settings ranging from urban hospitals to small rural practices.

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Peitzman, Steven J. (2000). A new and untried course : Woman's Medical College and Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1850 - 1998. New Brunswick, N.J [u.a.]: Rutgers University Press. p. 1. ISBN 0-8135-2815-1. 
  2. ^ a b c Peitzman, Steven J. (2000). A new and untried course : Woman's Medical College and Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1850 - 1998. New Brunswick, N.J [u.a.]: Rutgers University Press. p. 10. ISBN 0-8135-2815-1. 
  3. ^ Peitzman, Steven J. (2000). A new and untried course : Woman's Medical College and Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1850 - 1998. New Brunswick, N.J [u.a.]: Rutgers University Press. p. 6. ISBN 0-8135-2815-1. 
  4. ^ Peitzman, Steven J. (2000). A new and untried course : Woman's Medical College and Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1850 - 1998. New Brunswick, N.J [u.a.]: Rutgers University Press. p. 13. ISBN 0-8135-2815-1. 
  5. ^ Peitzman, Steven J. (2000). A new and untried course : Woman's Medical College and Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1850 - 1998. New Brunswick, N.J [u.a.]: Rutgers University Press. p. 22. ISBN 0-8135-2815-1. 
  6. ^ a b c Peitzman, Steven J. (2000). A new and untried course : Woman's Medical College and Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1850 - 1998. New Brunswick, N.J [u.a.]: Rutgers University Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-8135-2815-1. 
  7. ^ An Act Incorporating the Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia, p. 6, (Philadelphia, 1861)
  8. ^ Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia, Minutes of the Board of Managers, 19 December 1861, 3 April 1862.
  9. ^ Fifteenth Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia, (Philadelphia, 1876; for 1875); Minutes of the Board of Managers of the Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia , 1 April 1869
  10. ^ Minutes of the Board of Managers of Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia, 1 April 1869
  11. ^ Peitzman, Steven J. (2000). A new and untried course : Woman's Medical College and Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1850 - 1998. New Brunswick, N.J [u.a.]: Rutgers University Press. p. 28. ISBN 0-8135-2815-1. 
  12. ^ a b Peitzman (2000), A New and Untried Course, p. 40
  13. ^ a b c Peitzman (2000), A New and Untried Course, p. 78
  14. ^ Edward Atwater, "'Making Fewer Mistakes': A History of Students and Patients," pp. 165-187, Bulletin of the History of Medicine 57, 1983
  15. ^ Peitzman (2000), A New and Untried Course, p. 79
  16. ^ Mastrull, Diane. "Falls Center is still evolving/ The historic location of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania is now becoming a medical and educational complex. The center continues to attract new tenants.". Philly.com. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 

Further research [edit]

Coordinates: 40°00′43″N 75°11′03″W / 40.01190°N 75.18420°W / 40.01190; -75.18420

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