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The 1st qualified woman doctor in Hungary, Vilma Hugonnai, born to nobility, began studying medicine in Zurich after the death of her 6-year-old child and earned her degree in 1879. Her husband offered no financial support so she sold her jewellery to pay the tuition. When she returned to Hungary she could not practice medicine because she was a woman, so she worked as a midwife until 1897 when her degree was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and she was allowed by to start her own medical practice. She published papers on tracheotomy in diphtheria and burn treatment, and helped improve status of women in medicine.
Daily News Hungary calls her the front-line fighter of Hungarian women’s education. She taught hygienics at the Women’s Training College, and became vice president of the Scientific Lyceum in 1894. That year was also when the professors at the Budapest medical school finally agreed to allow women to pursue a medical career. She had to pass three exams to get her diploma approved. Emperor Franz Joseph said, “I’m happy that the countess will be the first Hungarian woman doctor, but I hope she’ll also be practicing, because the real value of science is shown in practice.”
BU
Copper-nickel
Mintage 5,000
38.61 mm
30.8 g |
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