Emma Willits
Encyclopedia
Emma K. Willits was a pioneering woman physician
and surgeon
who played an important role in the development of Children's Hospital in San Francisco (now the California campus [Women and Children's Center] of the California Pacific Medical Center
), serving as the head of the Department of General Surgery from 1921 to 1934.
She is believed to be the third woman to specialize in surgery in the United States.
. After receiving her medical degree in 1896, Willits served her internship at the Women's Hospital of Chicago.
In 1897, Willits moved to San Francisco as a resident at the Children's Hospital (for Women and Children). When she completed her residency in 1900, she opened her own private practice, but maintained her affiliation with Children's. She was initially a member of the surgical staff of the Department of Pediatrics, and later became chief of the Department of Surgical Diseases of Children. In 1921 she became the chair of the Department of General Surgery, a position she held until 1934. She is believed to be the first woman in the United States to head a surgery department. To add to her knowledge, she visited the Mayo Clinic
several times over the course of her career; in 1923 she spent several months studying in Vienna
. After stepping down from the chair position in 1934, she served as a consulting physician and surgeon.
During and after the time she held these hospital positions, Willits also maintained her private practice as a family doctor, retiring in 1941.
Willits' house in Palo Alto, constructed in 1926-27, was designed by architect Lionel H. Pries
.
Willits was lesbian and throughout her adult life lived with her partner, Elizabeth Ristine.
Willits lived quietly in San Francisco until her death at age 95.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
who played an important role in the development of Children's Hospital in San Francisco (now the California campus [Women and Children's Center] of the California Pacific Medical Center
California Pacific Medical Center
California Pacific Medical Center is one of the largest private, non-profit, academic medical centers in Northern California. The Medical Center is a combination of four of San Francisco's oldest medical institutions: Pacific Presbyterian Hospital, Children's Hospital of San Francisco, Davies...
), serving as the head of the Department of General Surgery from 1921 to 1934.
She is believed to be the third woman to specialize in surgery in the United States.
Biography
Willits was born in Macedon, New York, about 75 miles from Geneva. She was educated at Quaker schools. In 1892 she moved to Chicago to enroll in the Women's Medical College of Chicago, then affiliated with (and later absorbed by) Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. After receiving her medical degree in 1896, Willits served her internship at the Women's Hospital of Chicago.
In 1897, Willits moved to San Francisco as a resident at the Children's Hospital (for Women and Children). When she completed her residency in 1900, she opened her own private practice, but maintained her affiliation with Children's. She was initially a member of the surgical staff of the Department of Pediatrics, and later became chief of the Department of Surgical Diseases of Children. In 1921 she became the chair of the Department of General Surgery, a position she held until 1934. She is believed to be the first woman in the United States to head a surgery department. To add to her knowledge, she visited the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
several times over the course of her career; in 1923 she spent several months studying in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. After stepping down from the chair position in 1934, she served as a consulting physician and surgeon.
During and after the time she held these hospital positions, Willits also maintained her private practice as a family doctor, retiring in 1941.
Willits' house in Palo Alto, constructed in 1926-27, was designed by architect Lionel H. Pries
Lionel Pries
Lionel H. Pries , was a leading architect, artist, and educator in the Pacific Northwest.Pries was born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland. He graduated with a B.A. in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1920, where he studied under John Galen Howard...
.
Willits was lesbian and throughout her adult life lived with her partner, Elizabeth Ristine.
Willits lived quietly in San Francisco until her death at age 95.
Further reading
- Edwards, Muriel, M.D., "Emma K. Willits," Journal of the American Medical Women's Association, 5/1 (January 1950): 42-43.
- "Children's Hospital will Honor Dr. Emma Willits," San Francisco Chronicle, 13 January 1941, page 7.
- "Dr. Emma Willits Dies at 95," San Francisco Chronicle, 11 April 1965, page 22 (obituary)
- "Dr. Willit [sic] Woman Surgeon," San Francisco Examiner, 10 April 1965, page 50 (obituary)