Celebrating the Legacies of Trailblazing Female Doctors in Riverside County

Breanna Reeves | Staff

In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. Despite the backlash and obstacles she faced, Blackwell went on to open a New York Infirmary for Women and Children in 1857 with her sister and a colleague.

“She played an important role in both the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as a social reformer, and was a pioneer in promoting education for women in medicine. Her contributions remain celebrated,” Dr. Desiree Reedus shared during the annual community outreach woman’s symposium, hosted by the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Doctor’s Corner, a community outreach program after being canceled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the symposium returned on May 27, 2023.

Dr. Reedus is the co-chair of UCR Doctor’s Corner which partnered with the Riverside Woman’s Club, the oldest continuously running nonprofit organization in Riverside. The program was created in 2013 to mentor UCR medical students and provide several community outreach opportunities. The program also awards scholarships to UCR medical students.

Dr. Reedus explained that UCR’s Doctor’s Corner decided to center this year’s program on local female medical pioneers because of Riverside’s rich history on which the foundation of UCR’s Medical School was created in 2013.

“So even though [the] school is young, it’s been hundreds of years, basically, of medical providers that were holding the reins until the school was established to continue the legacy of medical excellence in Riverside,” Dr. Reedus said during the program.

This year’s symposium focused on early medical female pioneers in Riverside and beyond. The event also welcomed descendants of female medical pioneers who were awarded certificates by the city and council members.

Members of the Riverside Woman’s Club and President of the Woman’s Club of Indio, Marlon Carrier, stand together as Dr. Desiree Reedus (far right) reads the certificate of recognition on behalf of Dr. June McCarroll during the annual symposium in Riverside, CA on May 27, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)

Members of the Riverside Woman’s Club each presented different female medical pioneers throughout history and shared the impact of their legacies on the medical field. These women paved the way for new reflections on approaches to health, serviced underrepresented communities and created a path for female physicians today.

In 2021, there were approximately 351,117 female practicing physicians across all specialties in the U.S, roughly 37% of active physicians in the country, according to the 2022 Physician Specialty Data Report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Woman’s Club of Indio President Marlon Carrier smiles beside Dr. June McCarroll’s great grandson, who accepted a certificate of recognition on behalf of his great grandmother during the annual symposium in Riverside, CA on May 27, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)

The symposium recognized and honored the legacy and contributions of several female physicians including Dr. Sarah French Maloy, who was one of Riverside’s first female physicians, a founder of and the first president of the Riverside Woman’s Club; Dr. Anna Snider Brown Corr, an early physician whose family continues to carry her legacy. The Corr family of Riverside is recognized for establishing the Riverside Medical Clinic founded by her son, Dr. William Corr; and Dr. June McCarroll, who was a physician in the Coachella Valley, known for serving five American Indian reservations in the region and a member of the Woman’s Club of Indio.

Descendants of the Corr and McCarroll families were invited to the symposium where members of the Corr family spoke about their family history. The great grandson of Dr. McCarroll attended the symposium and was awarded a certificate of recognition by the city in his great grandmother’s honor.

Each year, the Riverside Woman’s Club awards several scholarships to students, including two UCR medical students who are in their first or second year of medical school. Students can learn more about the scholarships by visiting the Riverside Woman’s Club website.