Maria Lacerda de Almeida

A pioneering Brazilian physician and feminist who broke gender barriers in medicine and education.

Maria Lacerda de Almeida (1850–1928) was a Brazilian physician and feminist who became the first woman to practice medicine in Brazil. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she faced significant societal resistance but earned her medical degree from the University of Coimbra in Portugal in 1876, defying cultural norms that discouraged women from higher education. She returned to Brazil and opened a private clinic specializing in women's health, later establishing the first Brazilian school for midwives in 1899. Her advocacy for women's rights and healthcare access laid foundational groundwork for gender equality in medicine. Dr. Lacerda de Almeida also authored influential essays like Women and Medicine, arguing for women's inclusion in medical professions. Her legacy is celebrated through the Maria Lacerda de Almeida Foundation (flma.org.br), which continues her work in public health.