Advancing the Future of Medicine by Celebrating — and Cataloging — Its Past
The Foundation has roots at PCMS and branches that now extend far beyond it
More than 25 years ago, the upstart Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation found its first home in the offices of the Philadelphia County Medical Society (PCMS).
Known then as the Foundation for the History of Women in Medicine, the group was committed to saving documents that chronicled the challenges and accomplishments of pioneering female physicians and medical scientists in the United States.
Where it all began
The Foundation was born out of the bankruptcy of the Woman’s Medical College in Philadelphia, the first medical school for women in the country.
There was a commitment to preserve the archives and document collections on women in medicine that were attached to the college.
A small committee created a 501c3 nonprofit to protect and steward these archives through the bankruptcy process. Ultimately, they were successful in finding a new home for the records at the Drexel School of Medicine. With the archives secured, the original mission of the Foundation was met.
But the Foundation didn’t stop there. It expanded its mission to include not only the preservation but the promotion of the history of women in medicine. In addition to preserving medical history through records and oral accounts, the Foundation now examines such vital issues as the wage gap and looks to share the stories of pioneers in order to inspire and support future generations of women in medicine.
The Foundation & PCMS
“More than two decades later, the Foundation’s ties to PCMS remain strong,” said Victoria Burkhart, former executive director of the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation.
“We got our start at the Medical Society, in their offices on Spring Garden Street,” she said. “We will always remember where we came from, and involving the Philadelphia medical community in our efforts is a natural synergy.”
Mark Austerberry, executive director of PCMS, recalls that the late Dr. Lila Stein Kroser, former PCMS president, was a staunch supporter of the Foundation.
“As a trailblazer herself, Dr. Kroser understood the importance of preserving the history of women in medicine,” he said. “The Medical Society’s relationship with the Foundation has evolved organically, from its birth at our offices to its growth as a national organization that is committed to many of the same issues that we are.”
Many of the Foundation’s leaders have come from the Philadelphia medical community. Alma Dea Morani, MD, the first female plastic surgeon, taught at the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania for nearly 30 years. The Foundation’s highest honor, presented annually to a pioneer in medicine or science, is named for her.
Julia Haller, MD, ophthalmologist-in-chief at Wills Eye Hospital and former Foundation president was recently named Physician of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2019.
“The Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation is growing from our roots in Philadelphia with a message we are spreading throughout the country, through sponsorships, grants, lectures, awards, education, and our oral history project,” Dr. Haller said. “By understanding what came before us, we can move forward with clarity and purpose to benefit generations of women in medicine to come.”
The Foundation today
In 2022, the Foundation took on its most ambitious project yet — making the legacies of women in medicine visible and discoverable. Drawing inspiration from the Foundation’s roots at PCMS and dubbed the HUB, its goal is to draw from the discipline of history to engage researchers, students, educators, and the medical community in conversation, learning, reflection, and knowledge production related to the experiences of women in medicine.
The pilot launched with comprehensive profiles of six women — all past Alma Dea Morani awardees — whose fractured legacies are now sewn together in an accessible and appealing format. The HUB catalogs and displays autobiographical, biographical, and professional materials from a diverse array of illustrious women in medicine.
These and other programs — such as the 1849 Society, named in recognition of the year Elizabeth Blackwell (the first woman to obtain a medical degree in the United States) graduated as well as a lectureship partnership with the American Medical Women's Association — will continue to keep the Foundation forward looking while rooted in a deep appreciation of the past.
What’s next
Connecting the past to the present is what keeps history relevant and what allows us to build a better future.
That’s why the Foundation is committed to promoting that history through content. It allows us to share the stories of those who forged the path so that the leaders of tomorrow know they are part of a much bigger story.
The HUB is the central piece of how that mission manifests itself. As the platform grows, it will establish the Foundation as a connector and funder of historical materials documenting women’s legacy in medicine, furthering its mission to preserve and promote the history of women in medicine.
If you are looking for connections to the women who shaped the medical field, subscribe to the Foundation newsletter at www.wimlf.org/subscribe. You can also contact the organization directly at admin@wimlf.org.