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First Woman Doctor in Boone County | Lexington News
Dr. Gladys Rouse shattered gender norms in Boone County as the first female physician there, earning her medical degree in 1923 while raising a child—a rarity then. She launched her practice in Florence in 1924, where her historic home and office now stand protected by the National Register. During WWII, she boldly treated adult men, defying the era’s expectations for women doctors. Rooted in the county’s pioneer families, she championed public health through polio and cancer initiatives, held staff roles at major hospitals, and delivered countless babies. Even after retiring in 1964, she…
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