National Women Physician Day, held February 3, 2024, is a day of recognition for women in healthcare community. This acknowledgment of women in the field of medicine is held on the birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, who overcame years of discrimination to become the first woman physician in the United States. Originally from England, Blackwell returned to her birth country to champion the participation of women in medicine by opening her own private practice and medical college for women.1-4

Blackwell’s actions in medicine paved the way for the modern era of women in a field that has since thrived with their contributions to science. Currently in the clinical practice, women make up 37% of physicians in the United States compared with just 5% in 1970, according to a news release.5 Overall, women physicians are critical to the dynamic of the healthcare arena by bringing unique perspectives and challenging providers to be more equitable in their care.

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