Virtual Lecture – Pathfinder: How Chester County’s Ann Preston Blazed the Trail for Woman Doctors

In 1850, the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania was founded in Philadelphia as the first regular medical school in the nation for women to earn an MD. It was established by a group of progressive Quakers and businessmen from southeastern Pennsylvania that believed women had a right to advanced education in medicine. Within ten years of opening its doors, though, it faced utter failure—until one determined Quaker lady stepped up to keep the dream alive, against all odds. This is the story of Chester County’s Dr. Ann Preston, one of the nation’s first woman doctors and the first woman dean of a medical school in American history.

About the Speaker: Jennifer L. Green graduated from University of Delaware with majors in anthropology and history, and earned her Master’s degree in American History at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She has conducted research and written for websites like ExplorePAHistory.com and the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, and is the author of two local history books. She is Director of Education at the Chester County History Center.

Presentation is via Zoom, and will be recorded and available for 7 days for all registered participants. We will email out a Zoom link the day of the presentation, and email a link to the recording within 24 hours. Note: the Zoom link emailed out the day of the presentation only takes you to the live presentation; the link emailed out the day after will contain the recorded version.

This presentation is made possible by the generous support of The Haverford Trust Company.