Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Building our health organizations and systems Women in Medicine

The presence of women in medicine, particularly in surgery and as physicians, can be traced to earliest human history. However, it was only at the start of the 20th century that most countries began to provide women with equal access to medical education and subsequent practice.  Our women CMHF Laureates have helped, and continue to help, pave the way for future generations of women health heroes in Canada.

Surgeon Doctor and patient

Women in Medicine

  1. 1600

  2. 1642

    Jeanne Mance founded L’Hôtel-Dieu in what is now Montréal

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  3. 1700

  4. 1800

  5. 1840

    After her death in 1771, The Grey Nuns carried on d’Youville’s legacy

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  6. 1867

    Upon her return from the United States, Dr. Stowe opened her practice on Richmond Street in Toronto

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  7. 1876

    Dr. Stowe founded the Toronto Women’s Literary Club, later renamed the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association.

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  8. 1883

    Dr. Augusta Stowe-Gullen, the daughter of Dr. Stowe, became the first woman to receive a Canadian medical degree when she graduated from Women’s Medical College.

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  9. 1883

    In an effort to increase women’s access to medical education, Dr. Stowe founded the Women’s Medical College.

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  10. 1889

    Rejected from the Faculty of Medicine at McGill due to her gender, Maude Abbott enrolled at Bishop’s University and earned her degree in medicine in 1894.

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  11. 1900

  12. 1910

  13. 1914

    Along with another colleague, Maude Abbott took on Acting Editorship of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) during WW1, until 1919

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  14. 1914 - 1918

    During WWI, Maude Abbott worked tirelessly to prepare and catalogue teaching specimens for the Canadian Medical War Museum (CMWM)

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  15. 1920

  16. 1930

  17. 1931

    Elizabeth Bagshaw became Director of the Planned Parenthood Society

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  18. 1932

    Elizabeth Bagshaw founded Canada’s first birth control clinic

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  19. 1936

    Dr. Maude Abbott published her ATLAS OF CONGENITAL CARDIAC DISEASE in which she outlined a new classification system for congenital heart diseases

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  20. 1940

  21. 1950

  22. 1950

    Dr. M. Vera Peters published her landmark study that suggested early-stage Hodgkin’s was potentially curable with radiation therapy

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  23. 1951

    World’s first non-commercial cobalt-60 therapy unit went into operation at the University of Saskatchewan

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  24. 1960

  25. 1970

  26. 1970

    Dr. Bette Stephenson was elected President of the Ontario Medical Association, the first woman to hold the position in its 90-year history

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  27. 1971

    Lucille Teasdale-Corti became a war surgeon in Uganda

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  28. 1973

    Dr. Stephenson was elected President of the Canadian Medical Association, the first woman to hold the position in its 106-year history

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  29. 1975

    Dr. Peters published the first controlled study to demonstrate that lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy had success outcomes equal to or better than more radical procedures

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  30. 1975

    May Cohen led a federal government workshop on women’s health care, as part of the Canadian government’s response to International Women’s Year

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  31. 1980

  32. 1983

    Roberta Bondar was chosen from more than 4,000 applicants for Canada’s astronaut program

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  33. 1988

    As a skilled administrator, Dr. Jean Gray became Associate Dean of Post-Graduate Medical Education at Dalhousie University

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  34. 1988

    Dr. Jacalyn Duffin became the Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine at Queen’s University

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  35. 1990

  36. 1991

    Noralou Roos becomes the Founding Director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy

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  37. 1992

    On the space craft DISCOVERY, Dr. Bondar circled our planet at thirty thousand kilometres per hour, situated three hundred kilometres above Earth

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  38. 1995

    Dr. Judith G. Hall’s medical expertise and capacity for leadership was well-respected internationally

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  39. 1995

    The Ottawa Health Decision Center was founded by Annette O'Connor and her team

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  40. 2000

  41. 2001

    Connie Eaves became the first researcher in Vancouver to commence investigations of human embryonic stem cells (ES) and human induced pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS)

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  42. 2001

    When the Canadian Institutes of Health Research was formed, Dr. Jean Gray was asked to chair the Institute of Gender and Health Advisory Board

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  43. 2010

  44. 2012

    Dr. Rockman-Greenberg was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women for her work supporting vulnerable communities

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  45. 2013 - 2016

    Noralou Roos co-authors several e-books on health policy in Canada

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  46. 2015

    Nora Lou Roos founds 'GetYourBenefits!' effort in Manitoba

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  47. 2020

  48. 2021

Venerable Jeanne Mance

Women in Medicine, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Patient Care, Leadership in Organizational Development

When Jeanne Mance arrived at Ville-Marie in 1642, she immediately began her tireless work to establish the community’s…

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Jeanne Mance

Sainte Marguerite d'Youville

Leadership in Organizational Development, Women in Medicine, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers

As a young widow at the age of 26, Marguerite d’Youville became a “Mother of Universal Charity”, dedicating her life to…

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Ste. Marguerite d'Youville oil painting

Emily Stowe, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

Dr. Emily Stowe ranks as a true pioneer. She was the first female public school principal in Ontario, the first female…

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Picture of Emily Stowe

Emily Stowe, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

Dr. Emily Stowe ranks as a true pioneer. She was the first female public school principal in Ontario, the first female…

Read more about Emily Stowe, MD
Picture of Emily Stowe

Emily Stowe, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

Dr. Emily Stowe ranks as a true pioneer. She was the first female public school principal in Ontario, the first female…

Read more about Emily Stowe, MD
Picture of Emily Stowe

Emily Stowe, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

Dr. Emily Stowe ranks as a true pioneer. She was the first female public school principal in Ontario, the first female…

Read more about Emily Stowe, MD
Picture of Emily Stowe

Maude Abbott, MD

Heart & Vessels, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Women in Medicine, Heart & Vessels

Dr. Maude Elizabeth Seymour Abbott was a pioneer in cardiology and helped lay the foundation for many more women to enter…

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Picture of Maude Abbott, MD

Maude Abbott, MD

Heart & Vessels, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Women in Medicine, Heart & Vessels

Dr. Maude Elizabeth Seymour Abbott was a pioneer in cardiology and helped lay the foundation for many more women to enter…

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Picture of Maude Abbott, MD

Maude Abbott, MD

Heart & Vessels, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Women in Medicine, Heart & Vessels

Dr. Maude Elizabeth Seymour Abbott was a pioneer in cardiology and helped lay the foundation for many more women to enter…

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Picture of Maude Abbott, MD

Elizabeth Bagshaw, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Women in Medicine, Female Reproduction

Dr. Elizabeth Bagshaw’s devotion to women’s health is a treasured part of our nation’s medical heritage. As one of the…

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Picture of Elizabeth Bagshaw

Elizabeth Bagshaw, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Women in Medicine, Female Reproduction

Dr. Elizabeth Bagshaw’s devotion to women’s health is a treasured part of our nation’s medical heritage. As one of the…

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Picture of Elizabeth Bagshaw

Maude Abbott, MD

Heart & Vessels, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Women in Medicine, Heart & Vessels

Dr. Maude Elizabeth Seymour Abbott was a pioneer in cardiology and helped lay the foundation for many more women to enter…

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Picture of Maude Abbott, MD

M. Vera Peters, MD

Cancer, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Women in Medicine

Dr. Mildred Vera Peters is most notably recognized as an outstanding clinical investigator who changed the management of…

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Picture of M. Vera Peters

The Honourable Sylvia Fedoruk

Cancer, Women in Medicine, Health Policy

Sylvia Fedoruk was the only woman conducting medical-physics research in Canada in the 1950's. Her ground-breaking…

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Picture of Sylvia Fedoruk

Bette Stephenson, MD

Leadership in Organizational Development, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Women in Medicine, Health and Medical Education & Training

A pioneer and role model for women, Dr. Bette Stephenson had an outstanding career in the field of Canadian medicine,…

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Picture of Bette Stephenson

Lucille Teasdale-Corti, MD

Service Abroad, Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

Dr. Lucille Teasdale-Corti devoted 35 years of her life to serving the health needs of the people of Uganda

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Picture of Lucille Teasdale-Corti

Bette Stephenson, MD

Leadership in Organizational Development, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Women in Medicine, Health and Medical Education & Training

A pioneer and role model for women, Dr. Bette Stephenson had an outstanding career in the field of Canadian medicine,…

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Picture of Bette Stephenson

M. Vera Peters, MD

Cancer, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Women in Medicine

Dr. Mildred Vera Peters is most notably recognized as an outstanding clinical investigator who changed the management of…

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Picture of M. Vera Peters

May Cohen, MD

Patient Care, Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

May Cohen has championed the unique concerns of women in medicine and pioneered the inclusion of women’s health in…

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Photo of May Cohen MD

Roberta Bondar, MD PhD

Brain & Mind, Women in Medicine

When Dr. Roberta Bondar reached for the stars, she broke a glass ceiling for women in Canada. As the first Canadian woman…

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Picture of Roberta Bondar, MD PhD

Jean Gray, MD

Patient Care, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine, Leadership in Organizational Development

Praised and admired for her wide-ranging knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics, Dr. Jean Gray’s…

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Picture of Jean Gray

Jacalyn Duffin, MD PhD

Health & Humanities, Health and Medical Education & Training, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Women in Medicine, Blood, Blood

A hematologist and historian, Dr. Duffin has made enduring contributions to medical research and education that deepen…

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Picture of Jacalyn Duffin

Noralou P. Roos, PhD

Health Policy, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy

Unlocked the potential of big data systems analysis to clarify the social determinants of health helping inform effective…

Read more about Noralou P. Roos, PhD
Nora Lou Roos

Roberta Bondar, MD PhD

Brain & Mind, Women in Medicine

When Dr. Roberta Bondar reached for the stars, she broke a glass ceiling for women in Canada. As the first Canadian woman…

Read more about Roberta Bondar, MD PhD
Picture of Roberta Bondar, MD PhD

Judith G. Hall, MD

Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Leadership in Organizational Development, Women in Medicine

For over four decades, Dr. Judith Hall has been at the international forefront of genetic and pediatric research.

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Picture of Judith Hall

Annette O'Connor, PhD

Patient Care, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Women in Medicine

One of the great challenges of our time is finding ways to combine expanding medical knowledge with respect for…

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Picture of Annette O'Connor

Connie J. Eaves, PhD

Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Women in Medicine

Dr. Connie Eaves, a world authority on stem cells of the blood-forming system and their regulation in normal and…

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Picture of Connie Eaves

Jean Gray, MD

Patient Care, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine, Leadership in Organizational Development

Praised and admired for her wide-ranging knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics, Dr. Jean Gray’s…

Read more about Jean Gray, MD
Picture of Jean Gray

Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, MDCM

Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Skin, Bones, Muscles & Joints, Patient Care, Women in Medicine, Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Skin, Bones, Muscles & Joints

By developing diagnostic tests, screening programs, and treatments for disorders once untreatable…

Read more about Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, MDCM
Picture of Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg

Noralou P. Roos, PhD

Health Policy, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy

Unlocked the potential of big data systems analysis to clarify the social determinants of health helping inform effective…

Read more about Noralou P. Roos, PhD
Nora Lou Roos

Noralou P. Roos, PhD

Health Policy, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy

Unlocked the potential of big data systems analysis to clarify the social determinants of health helping inform effective…

Read more about Noralou P. Roos, PhD
Nora Lou Roos

About the CMHF

The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) celebrates Canadian heroes whose work advances health in Canada and the world, fostering future generations of health professionals through the delivery of local and national youth education programs and awards.

This enduring tribute to our country’s rich medical history is showcased here and in our physical exhibit hall in London, ON.