Honoria Acosta-Sison

Honoria Acosta-Sison
Acosta-Sison on a 1978 Filipino stamp
Born(1888-12-30)30 December 1888
Died19 January 1970(1970-01-19) (aged 81)
Alma materWoman's Medical College of Pennsylvania
OccupationsFirst assistant in obstetrics, Philippine General Hospital
Faculty member, University of the Philippines
Known forFirst Filipino woman to become a medical doctor
Research on trophoblastic diseases and toxemias of pregnancy
SpouseAntonio G. Sison
RelativesTeófilo Sison (brother-in-law)
AwardsPresidential Medal of Merit, 1955

Gold Medal, Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania 1959

Most Outstanding Woman Physician, Philippine Women’s Medical Association 1959
HonoursStamp with her image, 1978

Honoria Dizon Acosta-Sison (30 December 1888 – 19 January 1970) was the first Filipino woman to become a medical doctor.

Biography

She was born in Calasiao, Pangasinan in the Philippines and graduated from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (later absorbed by Drexel University) in 1909.[1][2][3] In 1910 she married the director of the Philippine General Hospital of Manila, where she first worked as assistant in obstetrics.[1] She later was first assistant in obstetrics in St. Paul's Hospital in Manila, and in 1914 she became a faculty member at the University of the Philippines.[1] By 1940 she was professor of obstetrics and gynecology and head of the department of obstetrics there.[1]

She was known internationally for her research on trophoblastic diseases and pre-eclampsia in pregnancy.[4]

Awards and honours

  • Presidential Medal in 1955
  • Gold Medal from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1959
  • Most Outstanding Woman Physician from the Philippine Women's Medical Association in 1959.[3]
  • In 1978, the Philippines issued a commemorative stamp with her name and likeness.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ogilvie, Marilyn; Harvey, Joy (2000). "Acosta-Sison, Honoria". Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. Routledge. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-135-96343-9.
  2. ^ Beltran-Gonzalez, Michaela (1984). Filipino Women in Nation Building: A Compilation of Brief Biographies. Phoenix Publishing House.
  3. ^ a b Lee-Chua, Queena (2010-03-28). "First Filipino woman doctor". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  4. ^ Aragon, Gloria T. (2005). The Road I Travelled: A Memoir. UP Press. pp. 7–8. ISBN 9789715424912.
  5. ^ "Philippines - Postage stamps - 1854-2013: 1978 Dr. Honoria Acosta Sison (First Filipino Woman Physician) Commemoration". Stampworld.com. Retrieved 2014-03-11.

Further reading

  • Windsor, Laura (2002). Women in medicine : an encyclopedia. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1576073939.