Elizabeth Blackwell was born in England in 1821, and moved to New York City when she was ten years old. One day she decided that she wanted to become a doctor. That
was nearly impossible for a woman in the middle of the nineteenth century. After writing
many letters asking for admission(录取) to medical schools, she wa
s finally accepted by
a doctor in Philadelphia. She was so determined that she taught school and gave music
lessons to get money for the cost of schooling.
In 1849, after graduation from medical school, she decided to further her education in
Paris. She wanted to be a surgeon(外科医师) , but a serious eye problem forced her to
give up the idea.
Upon returning to the United States, she found it difficult to start her own practice because
she was a woman. By 1857 Elizabeth and her sister, also a doctor, along with another
woman doctor, managed to open a new hospital, the first for women and children. Besides
being the first woman physician and founding her own hospital , she also set up the first
medical school for women.