Matilde Montoya

Matilde Petra Montoya Lafragua (b. Mexico City, March 14, 1859 – d. Mexico City, January 26, 1939) is said to be the first female physician in Mexico, who held an academic degree in medicine,[1] although there is some evidence that a woman named Zenaida Ucounkoff studied medicine in 1877.

Biography

Montoya completed her school education at the age of 12, and was not old enough for higher education, so her mother Soledad inspired her to start midwifery and obstetrics training. She worked in Mexico City, later in Cuernavaca, Puebla and Veracruz. Everywhere she was slandered and defamed by local doctors. Eventually she requested and received help from President Diaz to gain entry into medical school. Supported by President Diaz she was able to achieve a bachillerato in Colegio de San Idelfonso,[2] and to matriculate in 1880.[3] Upon her request, President Diaz gave her his support once more, so that she could take the exam. When she received her M.D. degree from the Escuela de Medicina de México in 1887, today Facultad de Medicina (Faculty of Medicine) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, President Diaz and his wife appeared in person to congratulate her. The Secretario de Gobernación (Secretary of the Interior) declared her doctor of surgery and obstetrics.[2]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Patricia Galeana: The Women Culture Museum: Cultural center of human rights, p. 6.
  2. 1 2 Leonel Rodríguez R.: Homenaje a la Dra. Matilde Montoya (Spanish)
  3. ↑ Montoya, Matilde (1859-1938) (Spanish), Federación Mexicana de Universitarias.
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