Posted on February 21, 2022
This is an update of my post published on February 21, 2011:
Lucy Hobbs met up with a lot of closed doors—just because she was a woman. But Hobbs made a habit of responding to a closed door by just looking for another door.
She was denied admission to medical school because she was a woman. She learned dentistry as a private pupil and managed to apprentice with a dentist—but then she was still denied admission to dental college because—you got it—she was a woman.
She was denied admission to medical school because she was a woman. She learned dentistry as a private pupil and managed to apprentice with a dentist—but then she was still denied admission to dental college because—you got it—she was a woman.
She persevered and opened up a practice in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later Iowa. Finally, four years into her career as a dentist, Hobbs was admitted to the Ohio College of Dental Surgery.
And on this date in 1866, Lucy Hobbs became the first woman in the nation (and probably the world) to receive a DDS degree (a doctorate in dentistry).
By the way, later in her career Hobbs moved her dental practice to Chicago, Ohio. There she met and married Civil War veteran James Taylor. He was working as a railway maintenance worker but his wife taught him dentistry, and he too became a dentist.
Learn about dental health.
Healthy Teeth has a step-by-step article on cavities and prevention of cavities.
Here is an explanation of why we lose our baby teeth.
Colgate Kids has suggestions for using music to improve tooth-brushing, experiments, and more.
Also on this date:
Anniversary of the first issue of the Cherokee Phoenix
Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia
(Date varies)
(Third Monday in February)
(Third Monday in February)
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