Faye C. Lewis | |
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Born | Faye Cashatt January 20, 1896 |
Died | June 10, 1982 | (aged 86)
Faye Cashatt Lewis (20 January 1896 – 10 June 1982) was the first woman to graduate from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She is the author of multiple books including Doc's Wife, A Doctor Looks at Heart Trouble, and All Out Against Arthritis.
Lewis was born on January 20, 1896[1] in Carroll County, Iowa and then moved with her family to South Dakota in 1909.[2] Lewis received her undergraduate degree from University of South Dakota. In 1919, she transferred to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis as a third year student[3] where she received her medical degree in 1921; she was the only woman in her class and the first to receive an M.D. from the university.[4] She first practiced medicine in Michigan.[5]
She married W.B. Lewis, who was a classmate at Washington University School of Medicine in 1923.[1] She stopped practicing medicine and began writing, a life she described in her book Doc's Wife.[6] They moved to Webster City, Iowa in 1928[5] and Faye re-started practicing medicine in 1943 during a period when her husband and others were serving in the military. While she did not intend to remain in practice,[4] she ended up working as a doctor until she and her husband retired in 1969.[5]
Lewis died on June 10, 1982.[7]
At the 125th anniversary of Webster City, Iowa, Lewis was named the city's outstanding business woman.[7][1]