Dr. Rebecca J. Cole was one of the first African American women to become a physician in the United States. She was born in Philadelphia in 1846 and graduated from the Institute for Colored Youth, a prestigious school for Black students. She then enrolled in the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, where she faced discrimination and isolation from her white classmates and professors. Despite these challenges, she graduated in 1867 and became the second African American woman to earn a medical degree, after Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler.
Dr. Cole dedicated her career to serving the poor and marginalized communities, especially women and children. She worked with Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the US, at the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. There, she received training in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as hygiene and preventive medicine. She also established a Women’s Directory Center, which provided health education, counseling, and social services to impoverished women.
In 1873, Dr. Cole returned to Philadelphia and opened her own practice. She was one of the few Black physicians in the city and faced many obstacles, such as lack of access to hospitals and medical societies. She also faced hostility and violence from some white residents who resented her presence and success. Despite these difficulties, she persevered and built a loyal clientele among the Black community. She also continued her advocacy work for women’s health and civil rights.
Dr. Cole was a pioneer in the field of medicine and a role model for generations of women of color who followed her footsteps. She died in 1922 at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy of courage, compassion, and excellence.