As part of our blog series about women medical pioneers, meet Dr Leila Denmark, the world’s oldest practising paediatrician. By the time of her retirement aged 103 in 2001, she was treating grandchildren and great-grandchildren of her first patients.
“Doing what you don’t like is work. Doing what you like is play. I have never worked a day in my life.”
Live Right
Born in 1898, Leila Denmark was the only female graduate of her medical school in 1928 and the first female Paediatrician in Georgia, USA. She led by example: pioneering, professional, caring and kind.
She counselled all to set an example of themselves: to be better parents, to raise healthier children. Her basic values of “to live right and eat right” are the foundation of physical and mental health.
Medical Research
In addition to treating many thousands of children and comforting their families during her career, Leila’s determination to prevent disease led her into medical research.
Following an epidemic of whooping cough which killed many infants in 1932, she co-developed a successful pertussis vaccine.
Before she died aged 114 years, she shared her secret of longevity:
“Keep on doing what you do best as long as you can.”
In their Honour
At Iyasu, we honour the exceptional contributions of women in medicine like Dr Leila Denmark. We do that by naming our luxury vegan medical bags after them.
We understand the challenges and satisfaction that working in medicine brings. Individually each one of us is incredible, together anything is possible.
