A trailblazer for women in medicine and political life
After medical school, Dr. Stephenson and her husband opened a busy general practice that lasted for more than 40 years. Spurred on by the lack of medical professionals entering the field of family medicine, Dr. Stephenson helped create the College of Family Physicians in Canada which promoted the importance of family doctors. She joined the medical staff at Women’s College Hospital and eventually became Chief of the Department of General Practice. With a keen interest in political affairs, Dr. Stephenson became the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Medical Association and the Ontario Medical Association. Subsequently, she became the first female president of both associations. In 1975, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and was the first female to hold various distinguished offices.