Rue, Rosemary (1928–2004)

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Rue, Rosemary (1928–2004)

English physician. Name variations: Dame Rosemary Rue. Born Elsie Rosemary Laurence, June 14, 1928, in Hutton, Essex, England; died Dec 24, 2004; attended Oxford University Medical School; London University, bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery, 1951; m. Roger Rue (RAF pilot), 1950 (div.); children: Randalph and Rolf.

Overcame paralytic polio to help other women balance their careers in medicine with their family lives; as regional medical officer for Oxford health authority (1973–84), then regional general manager (1984–88), opened career opportunities for women doctors by allowing them to work part-time while training to be specialists, an idea that evolved into the flexible training scheme now in use throughout Britain; was president of the Women's Medical Federation (1982–83). Awarded DBE (1989).