Born: 1857 (Călărași, Romania)
Died: 1919 (Bucharest, Romania)
Biography:
Maria Cuțarida-Crătunescu (February 10, 1857 – November 16, 1919) was the first female doctor in Romania. Born in Călărași, Cuțarida-Crătunescu showed great potential from an early age. She attended the Central School for Girls in Bucharest and graduated with top honors. Her passion for medicine led her to enroll in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zurich in 1877, making her one of the few women pursuing a medical career at the time.
Despite facing numerous language difficulties and witnessing the preferential treatment received by students with diplomas from France, Cuțarida-Crătunescu remained determined and transferred to the University of Montpellier. There, she completed her undergraduate thesis successfully.
To further enhance her medical training, Cuțarida-Crătunescu traveled to Paris, where she completed her hospital internship and doctoral training. In 1884, she graduated magna cum laude, becoming the first female doctor in Romania. Her thesis, titled Hydrorrhee to valeur et dans le cancer du corps semiologique del uters, showcased her exceptional medical knowledge and expertise.
After obtaining her medical degree, Cuțarida-Crătunescu faced obstacles in her professional career. She requested to work in the Diseases of Women department at the Brâncovenesc Hospital but was inexplicably turned down. Instead, she was offered a position as a professor of hygiene. However, undeterred by these setbacks, she became the head of the department of hygiene at the asylum Elena Lady in 1886 and later became the head of the department of gynecology at Filantropia Hospital in Bucharest in 1891.
Cuțarida-Crătunescu’s dedication to improving healthcare for women and children was evident in her founding of a maternal society in 1897. This society aimed to provide support to impoverished children, highlighting her commitment to social welfare. Her efforts garnered international recognition, and she was invited to attend congresses in Brussels in 1907 and Copenhagen in 1910, where she presented her groundbreaking work on Romanian medical initiatives addressing infant mortality and her study on nurseries in Romania.
In addition to her medical accomplishments, Cuțarida-Crătunescu was an ardent feminist. She presented Work of Women in Romania, a comprehensive study on the intellectual contributions of Romanian women, at a Congress held in Paris in 1900. Her presentation shed light on the valuable but often overlooked work of women in various fields.
During World War I, Cuțarida-Crătunescu served as a physician in Military Hospital no. 134, further demonstrating her unwavering dedication to her profession and the well-being of others. After the war, she retired, possibly due to her health, and passed away in Bucharest in 1919.
Maria Cuțarida-Crătunescu’s pioneering achievements as the first female doctor in Romania, her tireless efforts to improve women’s and children’s healthcare, and her important contributions to feminism make her a significant figure in Romanian history and women’s history globally.