The first woman doctor in Russia

Nadezhda Prokofievna Suslova is the first Russian woman to become a doctor.
She successfully defended her dissertation at the University of Zurich in December 1867.
At the same time she was awarded with a scientific degree and the title of Doctor of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics.

Before studying in Zurich
In Russia, there was no law allowing women to study; Russian women began to study at foreign universities. Suslova did the same.
In 1862, Nadezhda Prokofievna published her first scientific article in the "Medical Bulletin" - "Change in skin sensations under the influence of electrical irritation." This work was based on the discovery: the girl applied electrical wires to her hand for many hours in a row and at some point noticed that in some places the sensitivity was decreasing.

About Zurich university
At that time , in addition to a fixed salary, professors also received additional income depending on the number of students who attended their lectures.
The traditions of medical education were founded here in the 15th century.
All Swiss universities have switched to the Bologna system; they study at the university for the medical specialty for 7 years.

Years of study
In 1864, Suslova became a student -listener at University of Zurich and in 1867 the first Russian woman received a diploma of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery and Obstetrics for her thesis "Report on the physiology of lymph", performed under the leadership of Sechenov
At the University of Zurich, she loved to dissect frogs, study Latin, and was fond of physiology.
Nadezhda studied brilliantly, many teachers noted her ambition and desire to help people.

In Russia
At the beginning of 1868, Suslova returned to her homeland with a doctor of medicine diploma.
To confirm her qualifications and obtain the right to practice medicine in Russia, Nadezhda had to pass state exams to the Russian scientific council.
In St. Petersburg, she organized women's medical assistant courses. 25 graduates participated in the Russian-Turkish War of 1887 and amazed military doctors with their extensive medical knowledge and competence.

Achievements
She overcame the resistance of patriarchal Russian society and became a female doctor for the first time.
Nadezhda Suslova opened the way to medicine for many girls.
She treated for free, sometimes even paying for the prescribed medications.
She proved that the main thing in medicine is love for people.