Mildred Fay Jefferson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mildred Fay Jefferson
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| Born | April 6, 1927 Pittsburg, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | October 15, 2010 (aged 83) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Education | Texas College (BS) Tufts University (MS) Harvard University (MD) |
| Political party | Republican |
Mildred Fay Jefferson (April 6, 1927 – October 15, 2010) was an American doctor and activist. She made history as the first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School. She was also the first woman to graduate in surgery from Harvard Medical School. Later, she became the first woman to join the Boston Surgical Society. Dr. Jefferson was well-known for her work as the president of the National Right to Life Committee, an organization that supports the protection of unborn babies.
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Early Life and Education
Mildred Fay Jefferson was born in Pittsburg, Texas. She was the only child of Millard and Guthrie Jefferson. Her father was a Methodist minister, and her mother was a school teacher. Mildred, often called "Millie," grew up in Carthage, Texas.
From a young age, Millie was inspired by the town doctor. She would follow him as he made house calls in his horse-drawn buggy. This experience made her want to become a doctor herself.
She was a very bright student. She earned her bachelor's degree from Texas College in just three years. Because she was considered too young for medical school right away, she went to Tufts University. There, she earned her master's degree in biology. After that, she attended Harvard Medical School and graduated in 1951. This made her the first black woman to achieve this milestone.
In 1963, Dr. Jefferson married Shane Cunningham, a real estate manager. They met during a skiing trip. The couple lived in Back Bay and did not have children.
Medical Career
After graduating from medical school, Dr. Jefferson completed a surgical internship at Boston City Hospital. She was the first woman to do so. She also became the first female doctor at the former Boston University Medical Center.
By 1972, she became a board-certified surgeon. This means she passed special exams to show she was highly skilled in surgery. By 1984, Dr. Jefferson was a general surgeon at the medical center. She was also a professor of surgery at the Boston University School of Medicine. She continued to break barriers, becoming the first woman to be a member of the Boston Surgical Society.
Political Involvement
Dr. Jefferson was also active in politics. She described herself as a "Lincoln Republican." This meant she followed the ideas of Abraham Lincoln's Republican Party. She supported Ronald Reagan's campaign for president in Massachusetts in 1980. She had first met Reagan in 1973 when he was the governor of California.
She also ran for the U.S. Senate several times, in 1982, 1990, and 1994. Although she did not win these elections, her campaigns showed her dedication to her political beliefs.
Dr. Jefferson held strong views on many topics. She was a leader in the movement to protect unborn babies. She also expressed her views on other social issues. For example, she believed that the U.S. Constitution already provided equal rights for everyone.
Later Life and Death
Mildred Fay Jefferson passed away in her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 15, 2010. She was 83 years old. She was buried in her hometown of Carthage, Texas. Dr. Jefferson left behind a legacy as a pioneering doctor and a dedicated activist.
See also
- Black conservatism in the United States
- List of African-American Republicans
