Susan La Flesche Picotte

Biography

Susan La Flesche Picotte, born in 1865, became the first Native American woman physician after training at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, determined to bring modern medicine to the Omaha people. Her practice combined clinical skill with gentle advocacy, as she worked tirelessly to promote sanitation, reduce disease, and educate future caregivers.

Beyond the clinic, she established a hospital near her people’s homeland and devoted herself to nurturing the physical and spiritual health of her community, leaving an enduring model of compassionate leadership as she rests at Bancroft Cemetery.