title: Women in medicine through the ages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female practitioners of the medical arts have been active since the ancient world The role of women in science, and particularly in medicine, has changed significantly over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We provide a chronological review of the growing knowledge in medicine related to women's activities through the ages with particular attention to occupational medicine. Throughout history hazards have been shaped by the forces that shape work itself social evolution, shifting economic powers and demographic changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mythical Greece, Egypt and ancient Rome were the cradle of ancient medicine. In the past century, women were allowed to enter the medical profession with increasing acceptance. Some of the most important women in ancient and modern medicine are recalled, such as Mother Peseshet in ancient Egypt, Artemisia of Caria and Phanostrate and Philista in the Greek period, Hildegard of Bingen, Marie Marguerite Biheron in England, Elisabeth Blackwell, Emily Jennings, Maude E. Abbott and others. Women in occupational medicine are described separately, such as Alice Hamilton, Harriet L. Hardy, Molly Newhouse and Olga Macek.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Certainly, the first few women who iluminated the way for the generations that followed them into medicine, the women who made outstanding contributions to medicine, and the women who are currently finding success in medicine deserve our respect and admiration.
authors.affiliation: Andrija Stampar School of Medicine, Medical School University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. ezuskin@snz.hr
authors.forename: Eugenija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zuskin
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pucarin-Cvetkovic
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Schachter
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mustajbegovic
authors.forename: Ksenija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Vlasta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Deckovic-Vukres
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milosevic
authors.forename: Jagoda Doko
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jelinic
mesh_terms: D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000266:history; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000266:history*