Broomall, Anna (1847–1931)

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Broomall, Anna (1847–1931)

American obstetrician. Name variations: Anna Elizabeth Broomall. Born Mar 4, 1847, in Upper Chichester Township, Pennsylvania; died April 4, 1931, in Chester, PA; dau. of John Martin Broomall and Elizabeth (Booth) Broomall (died 1848); graduate of Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1871; studied obstetrics in Vienna and Paris.

As one of 1st woman medical students permitted to attend clinics at Pennsylvania Hospital, sparked protests by male students (1869); appointed chief resident physician at Woman's Hospital and instructor of obstetrics at Woman's Medical College (1875), serving as professor of obstetrics (1880–1903); established Out-Practice Maternity Department in an impoverished area of South Philadelphia, where students received clinical experience while providing high-quality care (1888); maintained private practice and served as gynecologist to Friends' Asylum for the Insane, Frankford, PA (beginning 1883); became one of 1st women members of Philadelphia Obstetrical Society (1892) and was 1st woman to publish in their Transactions; served as curator of museum and library for Delaware County Historical Society (1923–31).