Constance Stone
Encyclopedia
Emma Constance Stone was the first woman to practice medicine in Australia and played an important role in founding the Queen Victoria Hospital in Melbourne.
Stone was born in Hobart. She was forced to leave Australia to study medicine since the University of Melbourne
would not admit women into the medicine course. She graduated from the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, and was awarded her MD
from the University of Trinity College
, Toronto
. She went on to London where she worked in the New Hospital for Women and qualified as a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries.
In 1890 she became the first woman to be registered with the Medical Board of Victoria. Her sister Clara Stone followed her into medicine, she had been allowed to study in Australia and was one of two women who graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1891. Constance and Clara went into private practice together and both worked at the out-patients' dispensary in La Trobe Street.
In September 1896 eleven of Melbourne's women doctors decided to found the Victorian Medical Women's Society and the Queen Victoria Hospital for women. Construction of the hospital was funded by a jubilee shilling fund appeal, it officially opened in July 1899.
Stone was born in Hobart. She was forced to leave Australia to study medicine since the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
would not admit women into the medicine course. She graduated from the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, and was awarded her MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Trinity College
University of Trinity College
The University of Trinity College, informally referred to as Trin, is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1851 by Bishop John Strachan. Trinity was intended by Strachan as a college of strong Anglican alignment, after the University of Toronto severed its ties with the Church of...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. She went on to London where she worked in the New Hospital for Women and qualified as a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries.
In 1890 she became the first woman to be registered with the Medical Board of Victoria. Her sister Clara Stone followed her into medicine, she had been allowed to study in Australia and was one of two women who graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1891. Constance and Clara went into private practice together and both worked at the out-patients' dispensary in La Trobe Street.
In September 1896 eleven of Melbourne's women doctors decided to found the Victorian Medical Women's Society and the Queen Victoria Hospital for women. Construction of the hospital was funded by a jubilee shilling fund appeal, it officially opened in July 1899.