Born: September 27, 1876 (Scarsdale, New York)
Died: April 8, 1961
Biography:
Emily Dunning Barringer (September 27, 1876 – April 8, 1961) was a trailblazing figure in the field of medicine and a prominent advocate for women’s rights. She is best known as the world’s first female ambulance surgeon and the first woman to secure a surgical residency.
Born in Scarsdale, New York, Emily Dunning came from a well-to-do family. However, their fortune took a downturn when she was around ten years old, and her father left for Europe in search of a new beginning. Left with her mother and four siblings, Emily’s future seemed uncertain. However, her mother was determined to provide her with a better life and firmly believed in the power of education.
When a friend suggested that Emily become a milliner’s apprentice, her mother saw an opportunity. She insisted that Emily should go to college instead. Through the support of Dr. Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi, a family friend, and her uncle, Henry W. Sage, a founder of Cornell University, Emily was able to attend Cornell’s medical preparatory course with her tuition fully covered. Other family friends also stepped in to help with expenses.
Emily Dunning graduated from Cornell University in 1897 and decided to continue her medical education at the College of Medicine of the New York Infirmary. During her sophomore year, the college merged with the newly established Cornell University School of Medicine, providing Emily with even greater opportunities.
In 1901, she earned her medical degree, graduating with distinction. The following year, she applied for an internship at Gouverneur Hospital in New York City, only to be rejected. Undeterred, Emily reapplied with the support of influential political and religious figures. This time, she was accepted, becoming the first woman ever accepted for post-graduate surgical training in service to a hospital.
As a resident at Gouverneur Hospital, Emily faced numerous challenges and harassment from her fellow medical residents. However, with the support of mentors, family, friends, nursing staff, and the public, she persevered. Her presence as a woman doctor in the Lower East Side neighborhood where she worked was viewed as a curiosity, and local newspapers even published feature articles about her.
In 1904, the day after she completed her residency, Emily married Benjamin Barringer, also a physician. The couple went on to have two children, Benjamin Lang Barringer and Velona Barringer Steever.
During World War I, Emily Barringer served as the vice-chair of the American Women’s Hospitals War Service Committee of the National Medical Women’s Association. She led a successful campaign to raise funds for ambulances to be sent to Europe. Her dedication and leadership in this initiative earned her recognition and respect.
After the war, Barringer joined the gynecological staff at New York Polyclinic Hospital and became an attending surgeon at the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. She specialized in the study of venereal diseases, making significant contributions to the field.
Emily Dunning Barringer’s career was marked by numerous achievements and groundbreaking milestones. Her determination and trailblazing spirit paved the way for generations of women in the medical profession. She fought against gender discrimination and broke down barriers, forever changing the landscape of medicine.