March is Womens History Month, a time to honor the many generations of pioneering women who have helped build and shape this country, and to commemorate the vital role that women have played throughout American history.

The theme of the 2022 Womens History Month is Providing Healing, Promoting Hope. The National Womens History Alliance describes this as both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history. American healthcare has always benefitted from the tireless work of women healers and healthcare professionals, and Womens History Month provides the opportunity to acknowledge their contributions and honor their achievements.

Some of the most remarkable trailblazing women in history worked in healthcare. One noteworthy example is Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, the first woman in the U.S. to earn a medical degree. She graduated first in her class from Geneva Medical College in New York in 1849. In 1857, Dr. Blackwell took action to pave the way for those who came after her, by opening the New York Infirmary for Women and Children with a mission to provide positions for women physicians.

We also remember and admire Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, who was the first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a medical degree from New England Female Medical College in 1864. Dr. Crumpler faced and overcame daunting obstacles that prevented many Black Americans from pursuing careers in medicine.

There are countless examples of women across healthcare who broke boundaries and dedicated their lives to healing and hope, while creating a path for other women to follow. This years Womens History Month theme is part of our everyday lived experience at Stony Brook Medicine. We celebrate one of our own executives, Carol Gomes, who is the first female CEO to lead Stony Brook University Hospital.

We are also honored to recognize all the doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, mental health professionals, public health workers, pharmacists, professors, scientists and researchers whose commitment to the health and well-being of others is not just a profession, but their lifes work.