Margaret CRUICKSHANK M.D.New Zealand’s First Registered woman Doctor
Born 1873 , Palmerston, Otago, New Zealand
Died November 28, 1918, Waimate, New Zealand
Margaret Barnett Cruickshank was born at Palmerston, Otago, in 1873. She attended the University of Otago Medical School, and in 1897 she became the second woman in New Zealand to complete a medical course, and on 3 May 1897 she became New Zealand's first registered woman doctor
She accepted a position as assistant to Dr H. C. Barclay of Waimate, South Canterbury, and apart from a year's study in Britain in 1913, she worked in the town for the rest of her life where she was immensely popular in the small community. During the influenza pandemic of 1918 Cruickshank worked tirelessly for the people of Waimate, and caught influenza herself and died of pneumonia at Waimate on 28 November 1918. A marble memorial statue to her was unveiled in 1923, and is inscribed 'The Beloved Physician/Faithful unto Death'. Dr Margaret Cruickshank's service to the hospital and community was further acknowledged when new additions to the hospital were finished, the maternity ward was named "The Margaret Cruickshank" ward.  |
