Rita Lobato Velho Lopes (Rio Grande

Rio Grande

The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...

 June 7, 1866 — Rio Pardo

Rio Pardo

For the Brazilian tribe, see Rio Pardo Rio Pardo is a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Its coordinates are . The population in 2004 was 37,395, the area is 2187.5 km² The elevation is 41 m....

 January 6, 1954) was the first woman to practice medicine in Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. She received her degree in 1887 from a school in Bahia

Bahia

Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...

. Her initial enrollment caused debate with some arguing women had brains too small to understand medicine and others saying a female doctor could never find a husband. Although others favored her entrance and the Echo das Damas saw her as an example for Brazilian girls. She also did, in fact, marry and practiced medicine for several years.