03/08/2023
For National Women’s History Day, we want to highlight Lucy Hobbs Taylor, the first American woman to graduate from dental school with a Degree of Doctor in Dental Surgery. Born on March 14, 1833, Lucy became a school teacher for 10 years, then moved to Ohio to pursue a degree in dentistry. She was denied entry to the Eclectic Medical College and the Ohio College of Dentistry. After an apprenticeship and opening her own practice, she was later allowed to enroll at the Ohio College of Dentistry. In 1866, she became the first woman in the world to receive a doctorate in dentistry. Today, the American Association of Women Dentists recognizes outstanding women in the dental profession with the Lucy Hobbs Taylor Award, the most prestigious honor the organization grants.
