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S. Josephine Baker
1873-1945
In a time when people still used the phrase “woman doctor,” S. Josephine Baker was a physician and celebrated public health advocate credited for saving the lives of 90,000 children world-wide through her research and advocacy.
In 1908, Baker was appointed director of the New York City Health Department’s Division of Child Hygiene—the first governmental body devoted to children’s health. Under her leadership, New York City achieved the lowest infant death rate of any American or European city.
Baker’s lover was also a scientist: Rockefeller Institute researcher Louise Pearce, who worked to develop the first treatment for African sleeping sickness.
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