Title
Barbara E. Waud, M.D. (1931-), an early woman clinician scientist and professor of anesthesiology at University of Massachusetts Medical School
UMMS Affiliation
School of Medicine; Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Publication Date
2020-09-01
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Anesthesia and Analgesia | Anesthesiology | History of Science, Technology, and Medicine | Women's History
Abstract
After the first successful public demonstration of modern anesthesia in 1846, most female anesthetists were nurses by trade since none were yet allowed to attend medical school to become physicians. The turn of the twentieth century, however, brought about greater opportunity for female physician-anesthetists. We explore the life and career of Barbara E. Waud (1931-), a pioneering woman physician and researcher in the field of anesthesiology. Waud chose to pursue a career in medicine at a time when most women did not even attend college, and for most of her training and practice, she was the only woman in her department. Personal interviews with Waud, her daughter, and her colleagues highlight her rebellious and resilient nature that helped her overcome the obstacles put forth by male colleagues, and the judgment she received from female acquaintances for being a working mother. Waud's impressive career of dedicated clinical practice and ground-breaking research spanned four decades and inspired generations of physicians.
Keywords
Barbara Waud, Barriers for women in anesthesia, Female leaders in anesthesiology, Women clinician scientists
DOI of Published Version
10.1016/j.janh.2020.07.003
Source
Stabnick EA, Yang Q, Desai M. Barbara E. Waud, M.D. (1931-), an early woman clinician scientist and professor of anesthesiology at University of Massachusetts Medical School. J Anesth Hist. 2020 Sep;6(3):143-150. doi: 10.1016/j.janh.2020.07.003. Epub 2020 Jul 13. PMID: 32921484. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Journal of anesthesia history
Related Resources
PubMed ID
32921484
Repository Citation
Stabnick EA, Yang Q, Desai MS. (2020). Barbara E. Waud, M.D. (1931-), an early woman clinician scientist and professor of anesthesiology at University of Massachusetts Medical School. Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Publications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janh.2020.07.003. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/anesthesiology_pubs/192