‘Gillian Hanson had the vision to realise that intensive care needed to be staffed by highly trained specialists, requiring skills from physicians as well as anaesthetists.’

‘Barbara Ansell was an extraordinary and unique figure. Bringing together research, surgery and the pioneering use of medicines and diagnostics.'

‘The courage and vision of Sheila Christian and her tireless energy in promoting high standards of emergency care are a vital part of the foundation of our specialty in the UK.’

‘Shaped by her early experiences as a medical officer in London asylums, Helen Boyle went on to revolutionise mental healthcare, at the forefront of introducing early treatment.’

‘Sheila Sherlock was a true medical pioneer and innovator. Her talent, dedication and leadership were the driving force behind countless medical advances.’

‘Dame Margaret Turner-Warwick was one of the foremost doctors of the 20th century, leading the transformation of the treatment of lung disease.' 

‘Marion Gilchrist opened the eyes of many women to the opportunities a changing world could offer them and, through her work, saved the sight of many Glaswegians.’

‘Gertrude Herzfeld was a true trailblazer for women in surgery, a beloved and charismatic figure in the story of medicine in Scotland.’

‘Cicely Saunders was a woman with a real passion for making a difference; she let nothing stand in the way of fulfilling her belief that hospice care was essential for the dying.’

‘The redoubtable Sophia Jex-Blake was a powerful voice calling for women’s admission to universities and the medical profession. All of us working in these fields owe a debt to her.’

‘Marie Stopes was a pioneer of the 20th century in the field of birth control. She released women from the endless treadmill of producing children, giving them time to order their own lives.’

‘Dorothy Stopford Price pioneered BCG vaccination in Ireland in the 1930s. Her work was pivotal in ending the Irish tuberculosis epidemic in the mid-20th century, saving the lives of thousands.’

‘Anandibai Joshi opened the gates for many young women in India. She dared to dream and had the courage to pursue an education, demonstrating that there are no glass ceilings.’

‘Jane Walker was vocal in the fight for professional parity at a time when women doctors were very much in the minority. She combined her campaigning with being a true clinical pioneer.’

‘I haven’t had to face the discrimination that Dorothy Russell dealt with, thanks to her and the other women who fought to become doctors and paved the way for future generations of women.’

‘Ida Mann was a brilliant researcher, clinician and leader, who clearly saw the influence of social factors on disease. She has been an inspiration for decades and generations to come.’

‘Emily Winifred Dickson paved a path for women surgeons in Ireland. Never put off by barriers placed in her way, she became the first female surgical fellow in Great Britain and Ireland.’

‘Vicky Osgood was passionate about professional education and putting the patient at the centre of everything we, as clinicians, do. She is a greatly missed force for good.’

‘Eleanor Davies-Colley made her way as the first woman in a man’s world, devoting her life to the service of her patients and the practice of the art of surgery.’

‘June Lloyd was a brilliant paediatrician, determined advocate for children’s health and instrumental in the establishment of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.’

‘Kitty Lloyd-Williams led a life of outstanding contribution. A highly respected clinician, she will be remembered for her transformational leadership of the London School of Medicine for Women.’

‘Hilda Lloyd was a woman ahead of her time. The obstetric “flying squads” she established provided emergency care to mothers and babies who might otherwise well have died.’

‘Louisa Aldrich-Blake was, quite simply, a powerhouse. The first woman in Britain to gain a specialist qualification in surgery, she practised at the highest level, innovating as she did so.’

‘Mollie McBride was a wise, courageous and pragmatic woman whose energy and desire to make changes to benefit the whole NHS are as relevant today as when she was embarking on her career.’

‘Ella Pringle was a committed clinician with a clear social conscience and keen eye for how to organise and improve services for patients, particularly mothers and children.’

‘Marie Curie was a supremely intelligent, motivated, hardworking, yet humble scientist, whose ground-breaking scientific discoveries transformed medicine.’

‘Rosemary Rue was undeterred by prejudice against her as a medic, both married and a mother. Overcoming discrimination, and many other difficulties, she became an inspirational medical leader.’

‘Elizabeth Garrett Anderson is the original inspiration to women working in the medical professions. She not only became the first female doctor, but opened the door for thousands of others.’