Pioneering women in American pediatric surgery

Women were among the pioneers in American pediatric surgery in its early decades. Once in practice, Benjy Brooks (Houston) and Jessie Ternberg (St. Louis) became identified with the specialty in their adopted communities, and Rowena Spencer in her hometown of New Orleans. Louise Schnaufer in Philadelphia, Kathryn Anderson in Washington, D.C., and Patricia Donahoe in Boston were all prominent surgeons at leading children's specialty hospitals in the country. Schnaufer was the unsung stalwart in general and thoracic surgery at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Anderson became Surgeon-in-Chief in Los Angeles, and later the first woman leader of both professional societies in pediatric surgery as well as first woman President of the American College of Surgeons. Donahoe developed a spectacular academic career and became one of the outstanding surgical scientists in the country. Each faced gender discrimination at several stages of their careers: medical school enrollments that limited spots for women; widespread bias against women training in surgery and pediatric surgery; and the absence of woman role models and mentors. It is instructive and inspiring to review their individual stories that play an important part of the history of the specialty.