As we celebrate women during the month of March, KCU highlights Mamie Johnston, DO, graduate of the Classes of 1917 and 1918. Johnston set a symbolic cornerstone for the women who, over the next century, would walk the halls of KCU to study and become physicians.
Johnston entered the Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery (KCCOS, now known as KCU) two-year medical program and graduated as the first female alumna in 1917. The college then transitioned to a four-year curriculum and she remained to complete a second degree in 1918.
To understand what an extraordinary accomplishment this was, we must briefly focus on the challenges Johnston and other women of her time faced as they pursued their passion for medicine. In the early 1900s, gender, race and religious biases were not only prevalent but acceptable. Consider how daunting it must have been for a woman to enter a workforce dominated by men. Not only was it frowned upon, in many cases it was forbidden.
In the mid-1800s, only males were accepted to medical schools. The first female-only schools emerged in 1848. By 1910, other schools began to accept women but medical education remained strongly dominated by male students. In 1915, 6,000 female physicians practiced medicine in the U.S. (According to Statista, today 424,536 female physicians make up 38 percent of a physician workforce totaling 1,109,460.)
Over the century, inspired by Johnston and women like her, medical students at KCU and across the U.S., have continued to make great strides to overcome the obstacles Johnston and her colleagues faced; however, the stigma of being a woman and the feeling of being marginalized still exists within today’s generation of future female physicians.
After graduation, Mikayla Lebo, COM Class of 2025, will be a resident at the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ENT) residency program at Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, Mich. Lebo believes there is still pressure on young women to do more than their counterparts in order to compete for more competitive residencies.
“Applying to a male dominant field, I continue to fight for a spot at the table,” Lebo said. “Although everyone has to continue to do more to stand out and compete for competitive residencies, I felt as a woman I had it prove myself to the residencies as well as patients.”
But the strong foundation for women in medicine and the example set by Johnston serve as hope and encouragement for Lebo.
“Dr. Johnston’s legacy is inspirational to me. Knowing a strong woman was capable of accomplishing her goals, even with the stigma of being a woman in medicine, provides me a drive to accomplish my own goals,” Lebo said. “Her journey shows that it is possible to fulfill your dreams even if others may think they are too big or they've never been done better. I am proud to have a woman in medicine such as Mamie Johnston.”
Lebo points out that society continues to improve as it has over the past century and she encourages women to follow their dreams regardless of the outside noise and obstacles.
“There will be times of doubt and there will be people who will try to knock you down,” Lebo said. “But if you continue to take those moments as opportunities to improve, you will accomplish your dreams and overcome the challenges a stronger version of yourself. Don't be afraid, you are just as capable and strong.”
Johnston’s legacy continues beyond influencing young females to become physicians. She was also a trailblazer for women in medical education. In addition to her career as an OB/GYN throughout Kansas City, in 1919, she joined the faculty of KCCOS and taught gynecology and pediatrics for 47 years. In her honor, KCU opened the Johnston Hall Science Building in 1940. She retired in 1981 at the age of 92 and passed away on Nov. 6, 1986.
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