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Anne Louise McIlroy

Home > Exhibitions > Scottish Women's Hospital > Anne Louise McIlroy

Photograph Album - Scottish Women's Hospital

Dr Anne Louise McIlroy (left), Dr Keer (centre), Dr Alexander (right)

Dr Anne Louise McIlroy

Dr Anne Louise McIlroy (1874-1968) was an Irish-born surgeon, obstetrician, and gynaecologist who was commander of the Girton and Newnham unit during the First World War. Prior to the war, she studied medicine at the University of Glasgow, graduating MBChB in 1898, and was the first woman to receive the MD with a commendation in 1900. She then went on to specialise in gynaecology and midwifery, common paths for medical women during the early 20th century.

Despite holding positions as House Surgeon at the Samaritan Hospital for Women and Gynaecological Surgeon at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow during the early years of her career, she was denied fellowship to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1910. Fellowship of one of the Royal Colleges in the UK was required when applying for teaching positions within universities. During the 1890s and early 1900s the College refused to admit women applying for fellowship, on the grounds of their gender. 

Her application although refused led to the motion being passed in 1911 allowing women to be accepted as Fellows. Find out more about the careers of the women who challenged the College's stance on fellowship in the digital exhibition, "Admitting Women." 

She joined the Scottish Women's Hospital at the outbreak of war in 1914, commanding the Girton and Newnham unit while stationed at Troyes, Serbia, and Salonika. She wrote accounts from this time of the challenges and triumphs experienced by the unit. 

Despite battling gender inequality throughout her entire career, McIlroy was awarded an OBE for her war service and then DBE for her services to midwifery. McIlroy's career progressed after the war, however the same cannot be said for the majority of her female colleagues from the Scottish Women's Hospital.