Written By Kavya Gurunath Edited By Anvitha Mattipalli, Dominique Suniadji
Unsung Heroes Scientists are the unsung heroes of the world. They dedicate every day of their lives to trying to make the world a better place with their discoveries and experiments. Some scientists, however, didn’t only change the world but changed minds with their activism, open mindedness and courage. In honor of Pride Month, this article will cover the lives and impact of two incredible scientists, both of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Sara Josephine (1873-1945)
Baker
Sara Josephine Baker was a lesbian physician and activist. Her father died of Typhoid fever when she was 16 years old which motivated her to go to medical school. At the time, there weren’t many female doctors, but Baker was determined and confident in her decision. After college, she joined the New York City’s Department of Health, where she realized the terrible living conditions of people in the city’s slums. She realized that they could prevent many health problems if they increased the hygiene of the people, an idea considered revolutionary at the time.
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Notable LGBT She set up a series of neighborhood health stations to improve hygiene. Immediately, there was a decrease in the number of diseases and sickness and medical needs for children. All 48 states modeled a system of neighborhood health stations after Baker’s example. She is best known for her discovery of the sources of the Typhoid Mary, which affected many people at the time. Her discovery of the sources allowed treatment and prevention of the disease. Other extraordinary accomplishments of Baker’s include being the first woman to receive a doctorate in public health from New York University School of Medicine and the first director of a children’s public health agency in the United States-the New York Bureau of Child Hygiene. She revolutionized the way we think about medicine, health and hygiene. Additionally, she also lobbied and publicly spoke for changes to the public health system. She was a leader in the movement for social medicine. She opened the door for female doctors. She battled gender discrimination as well. She was publicly lesbian, and though she didn’t discuss it much, she paved the way for women and lesbians in a male-dominated society.
