Abstract: FRI-04
Sources of Funding: none

Introduction

In 1917, Alma Hiller became the first woman to publish in the Journal of Urology (JU). Her contribution was soon followed by articles from Carol Beeler and Dr. Isabel Mary Wason. Dr. Wason (1890-1972) became the first female lead author in JU. This study explores their careers and contributions, especially those of Dr. Wason.

Methods

We reviewed JU articles from 1917 to 1925 and identified Hiller, Beeler, and Dr. Wason as the first three women authors. We contacted librarians and archivists to obtain records of their education, academic appointments, and publications.

Results

In 1917, JU&[prime]s first issue featured &[Prime]The Relation of the Non-Protein Nitrogen to the Urea Nitrogen of the Blood&[Prime] by Hiller and Dr. Herman Mosenthal. Subsequently, in 1918, Beeler and Dr. HF Helmholz published &[Prime]Experimental Pyelitis in the Rabbit.&[Prime] Hiller and Beeler worked with their male co-authors as a biochemist and technician, respectively. It wasn't until 1920 that Dr. Wason published &[Prime]Report of a Case of Congenital Stenosis of Both Ureteral Orifices&[Prime] in JU, her first paper as a Pathologist._x000D_ _x000D_ Dr. Wason earned her degree in 1911 from The Western College for Women, where she stayed to complete a fellowship in Chemistry. She applied to Johns Hopkins Medical School (JHMS) in 1912. After graduating in 1917, Dr. Wason was recruited by Dr. Milton, the Yale Pathology Department Chair, to become the first woman instructor within the department (Figure 1). During her early career, she published three papers and a textbook on the pathologies of infection and nutritional deficiency, in addition to urogenital disease._x000D_ _x000D_ With her considerable body of experience, Dr. Wason moved to St. Luke&[prime]s Hospital (SLH) in Massachusetts in 1925 where she served as laboratory director. Dr. Winternitz described Dr. Wason as a &[Prime]splendid pathologist, a good bacteriologist, [with] considerable experience in clinical pathology, surgical pathology and chemical [l]ab analyses&[Prime] in letters to SLH. She stayed at SLH through 1943._x000D_ _x000D_ Figure 1: Dr. Wason with colleagues at YUSM in 1924.

Conclusions

During an era in which female physicians were few and far between, Dr. Wason distinguished herself as an academic Pathologist. Her relationship with the field of Urology, along with that Heller and Beeler, is of historical significance.

Funding

none