Kelly O'Donnell
Yale University
Marrying a doctor became an aspirational goal for many young women in the twentieth century United States. For those who succeeded in securing a physician, however, married life was often hard work. From fundraising and engaging in political activism to answering patients’ phone calls, the labor of the doctor’s wife was an essential part of the history of American medicine. My new research reveals that spouses of physicians had an under-appreciated but significant impact on the growth, reception, and reform of the medical profession.
Kelly O’Donnell is a historian of medicine whose research focuses primarily on gender and health politics in modern America. She has published widely on the history of feminist health activism, including several articles drawn from her dissertation, a biography of journalist and activist Barbara Seaman. At Yale, Kelly teaches courses on the history of health activism, medical technologies, reproductive health, and gender and medicine. As a first-generation college student, she also hopes to serve as a resource for students who are the first in their family to attend college. https://hshm.yale.edu/people/kelly-odonnell
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