Feminists for Life honors the life of Dr. Mildred Fay Jefferson, an accomplished surgeon and professor of surgery, as well as a tireless advocate for women and children, who died seven years ago today at the age of 84. Feminists for Life named Dr. Jefferson a Remarkable Pro-Life Woman® in 2003.
Among her many achievements, Dr. Jefferson was the first African-American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School, the first woman to serve as a surgical intern at Boston City Hospital, and the first woman to be elected to membership in the Boston Surgical Society.
Dr. Jefferson said she “became a physician in order to help save lives.” Later in her life, she would attend Serrin Foster’s speech at Boston College School of Law (which Serrin considered to be a huge honor), invited Serrin to her radio show, and nominated FFL to be the first pro-life group for inclusion at the most prestigious archive on women’s history at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard University. We continue to support her dream of a pro-life group on every campus by supporting pro-life collegians thanks to your ongoing sacrifice and support.