Jul 10
Who had the distinction of being the first woman to set up a medical practice in the province of Prince Edward Island?
Dr. Elizabeth Margaret MacKenzie, buried at St. John's Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Belfast, Prince Edward Island, holds the distinction of being the first woman to establish a medical practice in the province. Her pioneering achievement in 1904 broke barriers in a conservative society that was unprepared to accept women physicians, leading her to eventually serve as a nurse and military nursing sister during the First World War in England and France. A rare headstone bearing the post-nominals M.D., C.M.-R.N. marks her remarkable and multifaceted medical career, which spanned Canada, the United States, and Europe. As we mark the 146th anniversary of her birth on July 10, 2025, Dr. MacKenzie's legacy endures as a testament to perseverance and service.
