Years active 1887 – 1925 Role Medical doctor | Name Eloisa Diaz | |
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Died November 1, 1950, Santiago, Chile Parents Eulogio Diaz Varas, Carmela Insunza People also search for Amanda Labarca, Elena Caffarena, Eulogio Diaz Varas, Carmela Insunza | ||
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Eloísa Díaz Insunza (June 25, 1866 – November 1, 1950), was the first female medical student to attend the University of Chile, and the first woman to become a doctor of medicine in Chile as well as the entire continent of South America.
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Life and career
Díaz was born in Santiago, Chile. Her parents were Eulogio Díaz Varas and Carmela Insunza. She completed her requisite studies at Dolores Cabrera Martínez's school, Isabel Le Brun de Pinochet's school and at Instituto Nacional.
Díaz enrolled in 1880 to Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad de Chile (English: University of Chile, School of Medicine), shortly after a law was enacted which allowed women to study at the university. Díaz later became the first woman in South America (and in Chile) that graduated, and earn her Medical license She graduated on December 27, 1886 and obtained her degree on January 3, 1887. Her thesis was named Breves observaciones sobre la aparición de la pubertad en la mujer chilena y las predisposiciones patológicas del sexo (English: Brief observations on the apparition of puberty in Chilean women and their pathological predispositions about sex).
Díaz began working at a San Borja Hospital in January 1891. She worked as a teacher and physician in Escuela Normal from 1889 until 1897. Díaz became the School Medic Supervisor of Santiago in 1898, and was promoted to School Medic Supervisor of Chile. Díaz held this position for more than 30 years. As a philanthropist, Díaz founded several kindergartens, polyclinics for the poor, and school camps.
In 1910 Díaz participated in Hygiene and Medicine International Scientific Congress in Buenos Aires, where she was named "Illustrious Woman of America". Díaz was named Director of the School Medical Service of Chile in 1911, where she implemented school breakfasts and mass vaccination of students, as well as campaigns to combat alcoholism, rickets and tuberculosis.
Díaz retired in 1925. In 1950, she was taken ill and admitted to the San Vicente de Paúl Hospital, where she died at the age of 84.