Elaine Marjory Little facts for kids

Elaine Marjory Little (born June 2, 1884 – died May 2, 1974) was an important Australian pathologist. A pathologist is a doctor who studies diseases by looking at body tissues and fluids under a microscope. They help other doctors understand what's making people sick.

Early Life and Education

Elaine Little was born in Brisbane, Australia. Her father was a doctor from Ireland, and her mother was from England. After her mother passed away, her family moved to England for a while. Later, her father returned to Australia and continued his medical practice.

Elaine went to school in Brisbane and England. She also attended the Girls' High School in Armidale, Australia. She then studied at the University of Sydney. There, she earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Bachelor of Medicine (MB).

From 1914 to 1915, Elaine worked at the University of Sydney. She was a demonstrator in pathology, helping students learn about the subject. After that, she worked as a resident doctor at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from 1915 to 1917.

Serving in World War I

When World War I was happening, Elaine Little wanted to help. She tried to join the Australian Army Medical Corps. However, at that time, women were not allowed to join this group.

Determined to serve, Elaine paid her own way to England. In 1918, she joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a captain. This was a big achievement for a woman at that time. She first worked at the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine. Soon after, she was sent to France.

In France, she worked at military hospitals. She served at the 25th Stationary Hospital. She also worked at an isolation hospital in Étaples. Her commanding officer was very impressed with her hard work. He even wrote a letter praising her dedication.

A Career in Pathology

After the war, in 1920, Elaine Little returned to Australia. She went back to the University of Sydney as a demonstrator. Soon, she decided to open her own practice as a pathologist. This meant she had her own clinic where she specialized in studying diseases.

She became a highly respected expert in her field. She was a consulting hematologist at Sydney Hospital. A hematologist is a doctor who specializes in blood diseases. She also worked at the Royal North Shore Hospital. Elaine was also an honorary pathologist at the Rachel Forster Hospital for Women and Children.

Leadership and Recognition

Elaine Little was a leader among women in medicine. From 1935 to 1936, she was the president of the Medical Women's Society of New South Wales. This group supported women doctors. She also served on the board of the Rachel Forster Hospital for many years, from 1949 to 1962.

Her contributions to medicine were recognized by her peers. In 1938, she became a founding fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. This is a very respected group of doctors. Later, in 1957, she became a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia.

Later Life

Elaine Little retired from her medical practice in 1952. She had a long and successful career helping people through her work in pathology. She passed away in Lane Cove in 1974, at the age of 89.