Born: 1878 (Hensall, Ontario)
Died: 1981
Biography:
Jennie Smillie Robertson (February 10, 1878 – February 26, 1981), known throughout her career as Jennie Smillie, was the first Canadian female surgeon and also performed the country’s first major gynecological surgery. Born to farmers, she worked as a teacher to afford tuition for medical school before enrolling at the Ontario Medical College for Women which merged into the University of Toronto medical school during her time there. Due to a lack of options in Toronto, she completed her training in the United States. In 1911, she helped re-found her alma mater as today’s Women’s College Hospital after no Toronto hospital would let her perform surgery. She died at age 103.
Early life and education
Jennie Smillie was born on February 10, 1878, on a farm outside of Hensall, Ontario, to Benjamin Smillie and Jane Smillie (née Buchanan) as one of several children. From a young age, Smillie had a keen interest in medical science. At the age of 3, she learned of a woman missionary doctor and asked her mother if women could be doctors. Her mother’s affirmation solidified her determination to pursue a career in medicine.
Smillie attended public schools in Hensall and later in Seaforth. After completing her education, she worked as a teacher for several years to save money for tuition at the Ontario Medical College for Women. In 1906, the college merged with the University of Toronto medical school, becoming a coeducational institution. Despite facing hostility from some male peers, Smillie found inspiration in the women who positively influenced their male counterparts. She graduated from medical school in 1909.
Career
Securing medical internships proved challenging for women in Canada during Smillie’s time. Despite her academic achievements, no hospital in Toronto would accept her as a resident intern, forcing her to seek training in the United States. She completed her internship at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
In 1910, Smillie returned to Toronto to begin her medical practice. However, she faced further adversity as no doctor would accept her for surgical training. Determined to pursue her passion, she returned to Philadelphia for six months of intensive training under another female surgeon. This experience, particularly overseeing a surgical ward for a week, greatly bolstered her confidence.
Upon her second return to Toronto, no hospital would permit Smillie to perform surgery. Undeterred, she conducted her first major gynecological surgery, an oophorectomy to remove an ovarian tumor, using daylight on a patient’s kitchen table. This groundbreaking achievement established her as the first surgeon to perform major gynecological surgery in Canada and solidified her position as the country’s first female surgeon.
In 1911, Smillie co-founded Women’s College Hospital in Toronto. The hospital aimed to provide a space where female physicians could practice and perform surgeries, filling the void that existed at the time. Throughout her career, Smillie played a pivotal role in developing and expanding Women’s College Hospital, ensuring women had access to quality healthcare.
Smillie’s contributions to medicine extended beyond her surgical practice. She was involved in medical research and served as a professor at the University of Toronto. Throughout her long and illustrious career, she remained dedicated to improving women’s health and advancing medical education.
Awards:
– Order of Canada (1968)