Helen MacMurchy
Encyclopedia
Helen MacMurchy was a Canadian
doctor, author, and a pioneer in the medical field.
. She interned at Toronto General Hospital
, the first woman to do so. She was also the first woman to take postgraduate work under Dr. William Osler
at Johns Hopkins Hospital
in Baltimore.
In 1914 MacMurchy wrote A Little Talk about the Baby, a book that mixed scholarly research with common sense. This book soon became known to all Canadian mothers.
MacMurchy led a strong voice in her attempts to persuade the Canadian government that eugenics
was the answer to preventing degenerate babies. In 1915, she was appointed the "inspector of the feeble-minded" in Ontario. Her actions led to the wrongful sterilization of many immigrants.
In the 1920's MacMurchy waged a campaign against the then high infant and maternal death rate.
MacMurchy made a special study of medical inspection of schools
, child welfare and public health in England
and in the United States
. She would also become (for seven years) provincial inspector and assistant inspector of hospitals, prisons and charities.
In 1934 MacMurchy was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE).
In 1949 she was named one of the ten leading women physicians in the western world. Among her contributions were her campaigns against high infant and maternal death rates, the pioneering the link between of medicine with social needs and writing, lecturing and teaching maternal and child hygiene.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
doctor, author, and a pioneer in the medical field.
Biography
MacMurchy, the daughter of Archibald MacMurchy, graduated with first class honour in medicine and surgery in 1901 from the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. She interned at Toronto General Hospital
Toronto General Hospital
The Toronto General Hospital , is a part of the University Health Network, and a major teaching hospital in downtown Toronto, Ontario. It is located in the Discovery District, directly north of the Hospital for Sick Children, across Gerrard Street West, and east of Princess Margaret Hospital and...
, the first woman to do so. She was also the first woman to take postgraduate work under Dr. William Osler
William Osler
Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet was a physician. He was one of the "Big Four" founding professors at Johns Hopkins Hospital as the first Professor of Medicine and founder of the Medical Service there. Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet (July 12, 1849 – December 29, 1919) was a physician. He was...
at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
in Baltimore.
In 1914 MacMurchy wrote A Little Talk about the Baby, a book that mixed scholarly research with common sense. This book soon became known to all Canadian mothers.
MacMurchy led a strong voice in her attempts to persuade the Canadian government that eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
was the answer to preventing degenerate babies. In 1915, she was appointed the "inspector of the feeble-minded" in Ontario. Her actions led to the wrongful sterilization of many immigrants.
In the 1920's MacMurchy waged a campaign against the then high infant and maternal death rate.
MacMurchy made a special study of medical inspection of schools
School health services
School health services are services from medical, teaching and other professionals applied in or out of school to improve the health and well-being of children and in some cases whole families...
, child welfare and public health in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She would also become (for seven years) provincial inspector and assistant inspector of hospitals, prisons and charities.
In 1934 MacMurchy was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE).
In 1949 she was named one of the ten leading women physicians in the western world. Among her contributions were her campaigns against high infant and maternal death rates, the pioneering the link between of medicine with social needs and writing, lecturing and teaching maternal and child hygiene.