Eleanor Davies-Colley - pioneering surgeon

Eleanor Davies-Colley (21 August 1874 – 10 December 1934) was one of first few women to pursue a career in surgery in the United Kingdom. Coming from a family with a long background in medicine surely influenced her decision to take up the scalpel, despite the lack of opportunities or support for women in such a highly competitive and demanding field. Her determination paid off not just in terms of her own success, but benefited countless women throughout London over the course of her career.

After graduating from Queen's College, she spent a few years as a social worker in the East End of London, working mainly with the children of poor families. It was here where she became acquainted with the dire need for medical services to treat those who couldn't afford to see a private doctor or get treatment at the existing hospitals around London. In 1920 she enrolled in classes at the London School of Medicine for Women, where she graduated with a MB BS in 1907.

She was adamant about becoming a surgeon, following in her father's footsteps. She took a position as house surgeon at the New Hospital for Women (Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital), while earning her medical degree from the University of London. It was believed that surgery would be too taxing for a woman, and many people tried to talk her out of it. But she persisted, and in 1911, she was named the first female fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

In that same year she and her colleague Maud Chadburn began raising funds for a new South London Hospital for Women and Children. They were both working at the New Hospital for Women in central London, and both recognized the need for another hospital serving the people of south London, many of whom were being turned away for lack of space. Their mission was to create a facility that would not only address the needs of women and children, an often under-served population, as well as provide career opportunities for women in medicine, who were generally refused employment at other hospitals. It was a win-win for the women of London, and the South London Hospital for Women and Children was funded almost entirely by donations by feminists who were all too familiar with the needs of both segments of the population.

On 4 July 1916 Queen Mary opened the newest all-female hospital in London, pledged with the mission of only serving women and children under 7 and only hiring women. Dr. Davies-Colley worked there throughout her career in a variety of positions, including senior surgeon.

In 1917 she helped to found the Medical Women's Federation, to broaden the efforts to provide professional opportunities for women in medicine while also working to improve health care for women and their families.

Her dedication to treating women from all backgrounds, as well as her meticulous attention to detail and gentle bedside manner, made her a much-beloved and respected member of the medical community. In addition to her duties at the South London Hospital, she also served as the senior obstetrician at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, and surgeon at the Marie Curies Cancer Hospital, where she treated patients with uterine and breast cancers using new therapies derived from radium.

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