Trail Blazing Black Women: Lena Frances Edwards, MD

Photo: Finally Home Jersey City Throughout history, extraordinary people have refused to conform, broken down boundaries, and created paths for subsequent generations to follow. One such pioneer is the great Dr. Lena Frances Edwards, who made a name for herself in the medical field. Not only did she break barriers by becoming one of the first Black women to get board certification in obstetrics and gynecology, but she also permanently altered the course of medicine. The Early Years Washington, D.C. native Lena Frances Edwards was born in 1900 during an era when Black women, and women generally, had very few options. Notwithstanding these obstacles, her ardent love for medicine shone through, leading her to achieve distinction. Lena Frances Edwards attended the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania for medical school after finishing her bachelor’s degree at Howard University. Despite the pervasive racism in her day, she continued to do very well in school and earned a diploma with honors in 1924. Dr. Edwards decided to focus on women’s health after earning her medical degree. Lena’s Career Dr. Edwards encountered several challenges, including institutionalized racism, in the early stages of her professional life. Being Black didn’t stop several institutions from rejecting her...