Jennie Kidd Trout facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jennie Kidd Trout
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| Born |
Jennie Kidd Gowanlock
April 21, 1841 |
| Died | November 10, 1921 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Physician |
Jennie Kidd Trout (born Gowanlock, April 21, 1841 – November 10, 1921) was a very important person in Canadian history. She was the first woman in Canada to become a licensed medical doctor. This happened on March 11, 1875. For five years, Jennie Trout was the only woman in Canada allowed to practice medicine! Another pioneering woman, Emily Stowe, became licensed in July 1880.
Contents
Jennie Kidd Trout: Canada's First Female Doctor
Her Early Life and Education
Jennie was born in a place called Wooden Mills, near Kelso, Scotland, in 1841. When she was six years old, in 1847, her family moved to Canada. They settled near Stratford, Ontario.
After finishing school, Jennie became a teacher. She taught for some time before she got married. In 1865, she married Edward Trout. After their marriage, they moved to Toronto, where Edward worked with a newspaper.
Becoming a Doctor
Jennie decided she wanted to become a doctor because she often felt unwell herself. She wanted to help others who were also sick. In 1871, she passed her entrance exam for medical school. She began studying medicine at the University of Toronto.
Jennie Trout and Emily Jennings Stowe were the first two women ever allowed into the Toronto School of Medicine. This was a very special arrangement at the time. However, Emily Stowe later chose not to take her exams there. She felt the school treated the two women unfairly. Jennie Trout then moved to the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. There, she earned her medical degree (M.D.) on March 11, 1875. This made her the first licensed female doctor in Canada!
Helping Others with Her Clinic
After becoming a doctor, Jennie Trout opened her own clinic in Toronto. It was called the Therapeutic and Electrical Institute. This clinic focused on treatments for women. They used special methods like "galvanic baths" and electricity to help their patients.
For six years, Dr. Trout also ran a free clinic for people who couldn't afford medical care. This free clinic was at the same location as her main institute. Her institute became very successful. It later opened more branches in other Ontario cities like Brantford and Hamilton.
Later Life and Legacy
Because of her own health problems, Jennie Trout retired in 1882. She moved to Palma Sola, Florida, for its warmer climate. Even in retirement, she continued to make a difference. She played a big part in helping to set up a medical school specifically for women at Queen's University in Kingston.
Her family often traveled between Florida and Ontario. Later, they moved to Los Angeles, California, where she passed away in 1921.
Jennie Kidd Trout's pioneering work has been remembered in several ways. In 1991, Canada Post created a special postage stamp in her honor. This stamp celebrated her as the first woman licensed to practice medicine in Canada. On April 21, 2018, Google also celebrated her 177th birthday with a special Google Doodle on their homepage.
See also
In Spanish: Jennie Kidd Trout para niños
