Stay Connected

Last week, my husband sent me a link to a National Public Radio (NPR) segment.  I was getting ready to go into the grocery store quickly, however decided to click on the link. I could not get out of the car. I was mesmerized. The story was about Anarcha, Lucy and Betsey. I had never heard about them in my schooling from elementary to medical school. I am a gynecologist, I should have known about them, however my textbooks only talked about Dr. J. Marion Sims.

Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey were slaves. There were many more like them, however they were the ones whose names appeared in Dr. Sim’s. writings. Dr.  Sims who is credited for developing the speculum and developing surgical techniques to improve women’s health would not have reached such prominence without the help of Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey. From 1845 to 1849, Dr. Sims performed several surgeries on these women until he got it right. The surgeries were performed in his makeshift hospital in his backyard. There are accounts that he performed up to 17 surgeries on Anarcha without anesthesia. Most of the procedures that he developed are still use today in gynecology.  For more information, please listen to the NPR segment of these wonderful women. I promise you it is worth the 30 minutes.

I honor these women and many like them that have contributed to modern gynecology. They are our forgotten heroines.