# @squarerootacademy on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CbifqamPtAe
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/21311289-squarerootacademy-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/legacy-do/6614d7fa3aeaae54d721b9cade8690e8848df33f2bdec0a9d19be0d8733cf43e.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-03-25T19:43:58.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Square Root Academy (@squarerootacademy) — https://gondola.cc/squarerootacademy

## Caption

Meet Susan La Flesche, the First Native American to earn a Medical Degree! Born in June 1865 in the Nebraska Territory,  Susan’s father, Joseph La Flesche, aka Iron Eye, was the last recognized chief of the Omaha. Susuan La Flesche graduated second in her class from the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Virginia, now Hampton University. In 1886, La Flesche attended the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia where she graduated with a medical degree a year early and first in her class in 1889. Nevertheless, as a woman, she could not vote and as a Native American, she could not call herself a citizen under American law.
After earning her medical degree, she returned to the Omaha reservation and became the sole doctor for more than 1,200 people across 400+ miles, at only 24 years old. She did a great deal to help her people understand that they needed to make changes to protect their health. Dr. La Flesche wrote to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs about alcoholism and tuberculosis. Even after getting married and having children, she defied expectations by continuing to serve her people as their doctor, sometimes taking her children with her on house calls. In 1913, with help from her husband and donations, she opened the first hospital on a reservation that was not funded by the government.  Dedicated to helping anyone who needed it, regardless of race or ethnicity. So today during Women’s History Month let’s celebrate the amazing and selfless life and legacy of Susan La Flesche!

#womenshistorymonth #SusanLaFlesche #Nativeamerican #indigenouswoman #medicaldegree

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## Tags

susanlaflesche, womenshistorymonth, nativeamerican, medicaldegree, indigenouswoman

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