The Blackwell Award

Medicine is so broad a field, so closely interwoven with general interests, dealing as it does with all ages, sexes and classes, and yet of so personal a character in its individual appreciations, that it must be regarded as one of those great departments of work in which the cooperation of men and women is needed to fulfill all its requirements. “ ~ Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth did not win any awards on honors while she was alive, but the we now have the “The Blackwell Award.” It is given, by Hobart and WilliamSmithColleges to a woman whose life exemplifies outstanding service to humanity.

The Blackwell Award was first given in 1958, to Gwendolyn Grant Mellon, a medical missionary, founder of Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti. Here are some other notable recipients:

2004 Bishop Barbara Harris, first female bishop of the Episcopal Church

2003 Loretta C. Ford, founding pediatric nurse practitioner

2001 Madeleine K. Albright, 64th United States secretary of state

1998 Billie Jean King, professional tennis legend and a pioneer and advocate for women’s equity in athletics

1993 Barbara Jordan, U.S. congresswoman

1991 Margaret Chase Smith, United States senator and Antonia C. Novello, surgeon general

1985 Sandra Day O'Connor, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States 

In 1973, Elizabeth Blackwell was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.