Born: 1889 (Nuremberg, German Empire)
Died: 1982 (Stockholm)
Biography:
Johanna Hellman (c. 14 June 1889 – 1982) was a pioneering female surgeon from Germany and Sweden. She made significant contributions to surgical advancements in both countries and became the first woman to be a member of the German Society for Surgery. Hellman’s career spanned several decades and she played a crucial role in women’s healthcare during times of war and discrimination.
Johanna Hellman was born on 14 June 1889 in Nuremberg, German Empire. In 1912, she enrolled in medical school at the University of Berlin, where she received training under the renowned German physician Hans Virchow. However, she later decided to widen her scope of expertise and went on to attend the University of Kiel for specialized training in surgery.
World War I commenced during her time at the University of Kiel, and Hellman found herself working at the University of Kiel Hospital, where she completed her final licensing exam and wrote her doctoral thesis. She dedicated herself to caring for injured soldiers during the war.
After the war, Hellman joined the Northwest German Surgical Society in 1925, becoming the first female member of the prestigious German Society for Surgery. From 1929 to 1938, she worked as a surgeon, radiologist, and urologist at the Charité clinic in Berlin. During this period, she became the assistant to Ferdinand Sauerbruch, the head of surgery at the university clinic. She also introduced a surgical division to the maternity ward of a Salvation Army hospital, where she served as the director.
Unfortunately, the discriminatory laws imposed by the Nazi regime in 1938 forced Hellman to resign from her positions as head doctor. Faced with persecution, she made the difficult decision to emigrate to Stockholm, Sweden. However, due to her refugee status, she was unable to continue her surgical work and had to take up a job as a nanny. Despite these challenges, Hellman used her time in Sweden to learn the Swedish language.
In 1944, Hellman became an assistant in the Surgical Hospital of Eskilstuna and, three years later, was authorized to open her own private practice. She managed her private practice at the Red Cross Hospital in 1947, specializing in abdominal surgery. During this time, Hellman collaborated with Dr. Willy Anschütz on research and published papers regarding the use of radiation as a treatment for breast cancer. She also corresponded with the renowned physicist Lisa Meitner.
Johanna Hellman’s dedication to her profession was evident as she continued working until the age of 86. However, little is known about her subsequent life. She passed away in 1982 in Stockholm, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a trailblazing female surgeon.
Family:
Johanna Hellman was the sister of Sophie Hellman (c. 1894–1979), who also contributed to German healthcare as a nurse during World War I. Her father, David Hellman, worked as a merchant, and her mother, Fanny née Kromwell, came from the Kromwell family of Gunzenhausen. During her time as a physician in Kiel, Hellman adopted a daughter named Irmgard Ahrendt. Her dedication to both her profession and her family demonstrates Hellman’s multitasking abilities as a pioneering female surgeon.