Pioneer Woman Physician

Originally Aired: January 27, 1937 Cavalcade of America #67, "Pioneer Woman Physician," tells the story of Elizabeth Blackwell, who in 1844 makes a deathbed promise to her dying friend Jane to pursue the study of medicine. Three years later, the young, intelligent Elizabeth faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles as she attempts to enter a profession entirely closed to women. After being rejected by eleven medical schools, she confronts Dean Wirt, who is impressed by her extensive knowledge of chemistry and anatomy but refuses to admit her unless she disguises herself as a man named Edward Blackwell. Elizabeth refuses to compromise her integrity and continues her search for a school that will accept her as a woman. Eventually gaining admission to a small medical college in Geneva, New York, Elizabeth faces cruel prejudice from her community. Living in isolation at a boarding house where other residents draw their skirts aside when she passes, she remains committed to her studies. When a sympathetic young boarder named Maribelle secretly visits her room, Elizabeth shows her the simple reality of her life: medical books, plain black dresses, and an unwavering dedication to becoming a doctor on her own terms.