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Women in otorhinolaryngology: a historical perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 July 2018

S Konstantinidou  and
M Adams
S Konstantinidou*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Antrim Area Hospital, Northern Ireland, UK
M Adams
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Antrim Area Hospital, Northern Ireland, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Sevasti Konstantinidou, Room A-107, Hospital Accommodation, SWAH, 124 Irvinestown Road, Enniskillen BT74 6DN, Northern Ireland, UK E-mail: sevastgk@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Background

Otorhinolaryngology has an extensive history that spans nearly five millennia, and the history of women as medical and surgical practitioners stretches back to at least 3500 BC.

Objectives

To explore the history of women in ENT from ancient to modern times, and discover their fascinating role in this field over the years.

Method

A literature review was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed.

Results

In ancient and medieval times, there were female doctors accomplished in areas pertaining to ENT. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, inspirational women pioneers paved the way for modern female ENT surgeons. This led to a rapid increase in the representation of female otorhinolaryngologists in clinical practice and authorship over the last fifty years.

Conclusion

The contribution of women to otorhinolaryngology has evolved since ancient times and the greatest advancement has occurred within the last two hundred years.

Keywords

ENTOtorhinolaryngologyWomenFemaleHistory
Type
Review Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 132 , Issue 8 , August 2018 , pp. 670 - 672
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2018 

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Footnotes

Dr S Konstantinidou takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Presented orally at the British Society for the History of ENT Annual Meeting, 30 November 2017, London, UK.

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