Gantt, Rosa (1875–1935)

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Gantt, Rosa (1875–1935)

American physician and public-health official. Name variations: Love Rosa Hirschmann Gantt; L. Rosa Gantt (also seen as Rosa L. Gantt). Born Love Rosa Hirschmann, Dec 29, 1875, in Camden, South Carolina; died Nov 16, 1935, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; dau. of Solomon Hirschmann (merchant) and Lena (Debhrina) Hirschmann; Medical College of South Carolina, MD, 1901, one of the 1st 2 women to graduate from school's 3-year program; m. Robert Joseph Gantt (lawyer), Mar 16, 1905.

Served as secretary (1909–18) of Spartanburg Medical Society; was president of Medical Women's National Association (later American Medical Women's Association) (1931–32); lobbied for state legislation requiring medical inspection of schoolchildren (passed in 1920); organized and headed Spartanburg Health League; sat on board of medical examiners for draft during WWI; served as chair of board of trustees of state reform school for girls (1918–28); was legislative chair of South Carolina Equal Suffrage League (1914–15); in addition to organizational work in public health, practiced as eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist throughout career.