Born: 1915 (Crookston, Minnesota)
Died: 2006
Biography:
Jane Elizabeth Hodgson (January 23, 1915 – October 23, 2006) was an American obstetrician and gynecologist who dedicated her life to providing reproductive health care to women. Born in Crookston, Minnesota, Hodgson’s passion for women’s health and the fight for women’s rights would shape her illustrious career.
Hodgson obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Carleton College in 1934, and in 1939, she earned her medical degree from the University of Minnesota. Her medical training took her to the Jersey City Medical Center, where she met her future husband, Frank W. Quattlebaum. Together, they completed their residency at the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Inspired by the immense healthcare disparities she witnessed during her travels with Project Hope, serving in Tanzania, Peru, Ecuador, Egypt, Grenada, and China, Hodgson recognized the urgent need for comprehensive reproductive health care, including access to safe abortion services. She would become a pioneering advocate for these rights.
In 1947, Hodgson opened her own clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she provided reproductive health care to women for the next five decades. Her dedication to her patients and her unwavering belief in a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body set her apart as a trailblazer in the field.
Hodgson’s early research focused on pregnancy testing methods, earning her recognition as a Founding Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 1952. A compassionate and forward-thinking physician, she co-founded the Duluth Women’s Health Center in 1981, further expanding access to crucial reproductive health care services in Minnesota.
However, it was her tireless advocacy for women’s rights that would make Hodgson a central figure in the fight for reproductive freedom. As state laws began restricting access to abortion, Hodgson stood up and challenged these unconstitutional regulations. She became the only person ever convicted in the United States for performing an abortion in a hospital. Despite this setback, Hodgson’s determination only grew stronger.
Hodgson’s perspective on abortion underwent a transformation over time. Initially taught that abortion was immoral, her experiences caring for women in her own clinic and witnessing the struggles of women in the developing world during her travels made her realize the importance of safe and legal abortion access. She recognized that the existing laws were causing harm to women’s health, lives, and plans. Her belief in the right for women to control their own bodies became a driving force in her advocacy.
In her letter to the editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Hodgson reminded the medical community of their role as protectors of women’s health. She emphasized that legal, competent, and compassionate medical professionals were crucial in preventing the return to the dangerous back-alley procedures of the past.
While facing numerous legal battles, Jane Elizabeth Hodgson remained optimistic about the future. In an interview, she predicted that one day, abortion would be recognized as a humane medical service rather than a criminal act. Her resilience and courage in the face of adversity cemented her legacy as a key figure in the fight for reproductive rights.