Nadezhda Suslova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nadezhda Suslova
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| Born | 1 September 1843 Panino, Nizhny Novgorod Governorate
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| Died | 20 April 1918 (aged 74) Alushta, Crimea
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| Education | Kirov Military Medical Academy University of Zurich |
| Relatives | Friedrich Erismann (spouse, 1867–1883, divorced) Alexander Golubev (spouse, 1883–1918) |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | surgeon, obstetrician, gynecologist |
Nadezhda Prokofyevna Suslova (Russian: Надежда Прокофьевна Суслова; 1 September 1843 – 20 April 1918) was a very important Russian doctor. She was the first woman in Russia to become a medical doctor! She worked as a gynecologist (a doctor who specializes in women's health) in Nizhny Novgorod. Nadezhda was also known for her many charity efforts, helping people in need. She was the sister of Polina Suslova.
Early Life and Family
Nadezhda was born in a village called Panino, in the Nizhny Novgorod area. She was the second of three children. Her parents, Prokofii and Anna, were originally serfs. Serfs were like farmers who belonged to the land and its owner, the Sheremetev family. But Nadezhda's father, Prokofii, was very smart and became a successful merchant (someone who buys and sells goods) and manufacturer (someone who makes things).
Because he was successful, Prokofii wanted his daughters, Polina and Nadezhda, to get a good education. They had a governess (a private teacher) and a dancing teacher at home. Later, Nadezhda went to a boarding school in Moscow called Penichkau. There, she learned several foreign languages. Like many young people at the time, Nadezhda loved to read. She enjoyed books by writers like Nikolay Chernyshevsky. In 1859, the Suslova sisters moved to Saint Petersburg.
Becoming a Doctor
Nadezhda was very determined to study medicine. At first, she was allowed to attend classes at the Imperial Military Medical Academy in Russia. This was a big deal because women were usually not allowed in universities then. She studied with another young woman named Mariia Obrucheva. In 1862, Nadezhda's first article about how skin sensations change with electricity was published.
However, in 1865, women were officially banned from Russian universities. So, Nadezhda moved to Switzerland to continue her studies. She first attended medical classes at the University of Zurich as an auditor (meaning she could listen but wasn't officially enrolled). After two years, the university officially opened its doors to women, and she became a full student.
For her final research, she studied how frog muscles react and how they relate to lymph hearts. She did this research in a lab in Graz. In 1867, Nadezhda graduated. She was the very first Russian woman to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree! She had to present and defend her research and education in front of many people and the medical school teachers.
Medical Career and Helping Others
After becoming a doctor, Nadezhda Suslova's first scientific paper was published in Germany in 1868. To practice medicine in Russia, she had to pass a special exam, which she did in 1868. She then started working as a gynecologist (specializing in women's health) and pediatrician (a doctor for children) in St. Petersburg. She treated patients from all different backgrounds, rich and poor.
Later, she moved to Nizhny Novgorod to continue her medical practice. After some time there, she moved to Alushta with her second husband. In Alushta, she became well-known for her kindness. She gave free medical care to the local poor Tatar people. She also showed her generous spirit by building a library and a school on her own property to help the local community.
Personal Life
Nadezhda Suslova married her first husband, Friedrich Erismann, on April 16, 1868, in Vienna, Austria. They had met while they were both students at the University of Zurich. They later divorced in 1883. In 1885, Nadezhda married her second husband, Aleksandr Golubev, who was also a doctor and a professor.
