The First Women Physicians in the History of Modern Greek Medicine: Maria Kalapothaki (1859-1941) and Aggeliki Panagiotatou (1878-1954)

Acta Med Hist Adriat. 2019 Jul 1;17(1):55-64. doi: 10.31952/amha.17.1.3.

Abstract

In an era when medicine in Greece was dominated by men, at the end of the 19th and during the first decades of 20th century, two women, Maria Kalapothakes [in Greek: Μαρία Καλαποθάκη] (1859-1941) and Angélique Panayotatou [in Greek: Αγγελική Παναγιωτάτου] (1878-1954), managed to stand out and contribute to the evolution of medicine. Maria Kalapothakes received medical education in Paris and then she returned to Greece. Not only did she contribute to several fields of medicine, but also exercised charity and even undertook the task of treating war victims on many occasions. Angélique Panayotatou studied medicine at the University of Athens and then moved to Alexandria in Egypt, where she specialized in tropical medicine and also engaged in literature. Panayotatou became the first female professor of the Medical School of Athens and the first female member of the Academy of Athens. In recognition for their contributions, Kalapothakes and Panayotatou received medals and honors for both their scientific work and social engagement.

Keywords: women physician; Kalapothaki; Panagiotatou; Modern Greek medicine.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Historical Article
  • Portrait

MeSH terms

  • Academies and Institutes / history*
  • Egypt
  • Greece
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • Paris
  • Physicians, Women / history*
  • Schools, Medical / history*

Personal name as subject

  • Maria Kalapothaki
  • Aggeliki Panagiotatou