Which woman became the first female physician in the United States?

Elizabeth Blackwell is recognized as the first female physician in the United States due to her groundbreaking achievement of becoming the first woman to receive a medical degree in 1849 from Geneva Medical College in New York. Her determination to pursue a medical career at a time when women were largely excluded from the field not only paved the way for future generations of female physicians but also highlighted the prevailing gender biases in medical education.

Blackwell's success was a significant milestone in the history of medicine, as she overcame numerous obstacles and societal norms that discouraged women from entering the medical profession. After earning her degree, she went on to found the New York Infirmary for Women and Children in 1857, further establishing her legacy and commitment to providing healthcare accessible to women and children.

In contrast, while Mary Edwards Walker was a pioneering surgeon during the Civil War and an advocate for women’s rights, she did not hold the title of the first female physician. Florence Nightingale is often considered the founder of modern nursing, not a physician, and Susan B. Anthony was a prominent social reformer and women's rights activist but was not involved in the medical field. Thus, Blackwell's unique accomplishments distinguish her as a historical figure in American medicine.