Isabella Ferrier Pringle

Born in Edinburgh in 1876, Isabella pursued a career in medicine at age 27 after initially working as a typist.

After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1909, she travelled to Manchuria to work as a medical missionary until ill health led her return to Scotland in 1916. Following her recovery, she obtained a Diploma in Public Health and became the assistant medical officer for Paisley in 1917. 

During her time in Paisley, she became responsible for the new maternity and child welfare scheme there. Under her leadership, this became one of the most comprehensive of its kind in Scotland.

Following a debate by the Royal College of Physicians in 1918, efforts to acknowledge and support women doctors were incorporated into a supplementary charter in 1920. Subsequently, Isabella completed her MD in 1921 and, in 1925, passed the membership examination.

From 1921 to 1941, she held the position of senior assistant medical officer in Edinburgh, where she established an extensive child welfare and maternity service.

Isabella become a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1929 – the first woman to receive this honour.

Isabella died in 1963, leaving a legacy as a pioneer for maternal and child health.