American Women's Hospitals Service
AWHS History
In July, 1915, 300 women physicians attended a lecture presented by Dr. Rosalie Morton who illustrated the work of women physicians in World War I. It was the norm in the United States, as in the allied countries, to deny medical women any active role in the war effort. Dr. Morton's lecture sparked a flame which would see the birth of the American Women's Hospitals Committee.
The Committee had a two-fold mission at that time - the relief of suffering through medical care and the advancement of women in the medical profession. Much of the historical work of AWHS is chronicled by Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy in her remarkable book, Certain Samaritans which is now available on-line at: http://www.ourstory.info/library/2-ww1/Lovejoy/awhTC.html
For almost a century, AWHS has continued this tradition of service in supporting medical programs and projects both at home and abroad.
AWHS Today
Sponsored Clinics
AWHS has historically worked with AMWA as its charitable arm, supporting 6 independent clinics in the US and 4 overseas which bring much needed care to diverse populations ranging from former coal mining communities in rural Kentucky and Tennessee to a hospital in Haiti to remote villages along the Amazon river serviced by refurbished ships that serve as floating clinics and traveling operating rooms.
Read more about our clinic sites.
We support clinic programs that provide care to rural and urban underserved populations:
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Student Travel Grants
AWHS promotes education, outreach and exposure to global health in each new generation of physicians through our annual student travel grant program. AWHS grants are awarded to AMWA student members who have been accepted into an medical school sponsored overseas clinic program to help offset travel costs.
Requirements include: grant application, approval by student's medical school dean, and project report. Applications are reviewed by AWHS members who select 2-3 students each year. AWHS student grantees have visited a number of countries including: Haiti, Peru, Uganda, Vietnam, India, Barbados, South Africa and Nepal.
Donate
From 1917 to 2013 our group has sought to make a difference and try to inspire others to do the same. We have projects that are waiting for funding in Ethiopia, Angola and Cape Town.
Help support these programs by making a donation.
Click here to view a copy of the AWHS brochure
For more information please visit (and "like") us on Facebook
You can also contact us via email at AWHS@amwa-doc.org
