The Story of Jennie Trout and Women in Medicine
Jennie Kidd Trout was Canada's first female physician licensed to practice and an incredibly respected and impactful activist.
The Story of Dr. Crawford Long and the Ether Controversy
Born in 1815, Dr. Crawford Long studied medicine and surgery under renowned scholars and had the opportunity to participate in several surgeries. Surgery was a different experience in the early nineteenth century because patients were not sedated and were in excruciating pain throughout the procedure.
The Story of Perry Davis and His Painkiller
Perry Davis (1791–1862) was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on July 7, 1791. His parents owned no property and thus did not even show up on tax records at the time of Davis’ birth. By 1837, he had tried, unsuccessfully, to start multiple businesses, leaving him $4500 in debt. In 1840, Davis became so sick that his pain was debilitating. His solution? A mix of alcohol, opiates, and herbs, which would later be dubbed “Perry Davis’ Painkiller.”
The Story of Ann Baillie and Our National Historic Site
As part of the Historic Places Days' challenge to explore the stories connected to our National Historic Site, we present to you the story of our site's namesake through the life of lauded Superintendent of Nurses at KGH, Ann Baillie.
The Story of Dr. René Laennec and His Stethoscope
Born in 1781 in Brittany, France, Rene Laënnec (1781-1826) was the doctor who invented the stethoscope.
The Story of Dr. Leonidas H. Berry and His Gastroscope
Born in North Carolina in 1902, Dr. Leonidas Berry was one of the leading gastroenterologists of his time. After working as the first black intern at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, he went on to become a junior attending physician at Chicago's Provident Hospital, the first American hospital owned and operated by African-Americans.
Indigenous History Month: Dr. Cornelia Wieman
Dr. Wieman is an Anishinaabe woman from Manitoba, Little Grand Rapids First Nation. She grew up very poor with her adoptive non-Indigenous family as a victim of the Sixties Scoop. She had very little exposure to medicine prior to her entrance into McMaster University. After graduating from McMaster in 1993 with a medical degree and training in psychiatry, she became laser focused on improving the health and mental health of Indigenous Peoples and fighting Indigenous racism.
Indigenous History Month: Dr. Oronhyatekha
Dr. Oronhyatekha, meaning "Burning Sky" or “Burning Cloud”), also known as Peter Martin, a Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk) became one of the first Indigenous persons in Canada to earn a medical degree on May 22, 1867.
Indigenous History Month: Dr. Nadine Caron
Today we are celebrating Dr. Nadine Caron who is making medical history! Her story is one of many firsts; she became the first Indigenous woman to graduate from the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) medical school and then, in 2005, became the first female Indigenous general surgeon in Canada. Most recently, Dr. Caron was named the UBC’s founding First Nations Health Authority Chair in Cancer and Wellness.
Indigenous History Month: Dr. Peter Edmund Jones (Kahkewaquonaby)
In 1866, Dr. Peter Edmund Jones became North America’s first licensed Indigenous physician after attending medical school at the University of Toronto and Queen's College (now Queen's University). He became a strong voice for the rights and health of Indigenous peoples, lobbying the federal government on behalf of Indigenous peoples, and promoting tuberculosis vaccination programs and advocating for public health initiatives.