The first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States was Elizabeth Blackwell. In 1849, she graduated from Geneva Medical College in New York, overcoming significant social barriers as a woman in a male-dominated field. Blackwell's pioneering achievement laid the groundwork for future generations of female physicians. She went on to advocate for women's education in medicine and established the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children, emphasizing the importance of healthcare access for underserved populations.