Elizabeth Smith Shortt

Elizabeth Smith Shortt (18 January 1859 – 14 January 1949) was one of the first three women to earn a medical degree in Canada. She was one of the women medical students expelled from Queen's University, Ontario following a hostile backlash from male staff and students at the presence of women in the medical school. Shortt went on to complete her studies at a newly established women's college and practised medicine in Hamilton, Ontario. She was a long-serving and active member of the National Council of Women of Canada and spearheaded a number of public health and women's welfare initiatives. Early life and education Shortt was born on 18 January 1859 in the community of Winona, which is now located in the city of Hamilton, Ontario. Her parents were Sylvester Smith (died in 1885) and Damaris Isabella Smith (McGee) (1831-1913). Damaris was a school teacher, and Sylvester's family were the founders of the E.D. Smith preserves company. Shortt received her education from a governess as well as attending Winona School and Hamilton Collegiate Institute. She also attended Ottawa Normal School in January 1880. Even though she enjoyed her time at the school, she recalls rarely being challenged. While attending she frequently received the weekly Honourable Mentions; she also attended many parliamentary sessions and frequented the House of Commons. Queen's University In February 1880 Shortt read in the newspaper about prospective separate classes for women in medicine; in April of the same year, she started her training at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. She was one of the first three women to attend Queen's, accompanied by who she refers to in her personal writings as Mrs. Mae and Miss Betty. Shortt was required to be up every morning at 6:00 am and had classes until 8:00 pm; she then would continue studying until 11:00 pm. One of the first things she recalls when beginning her studies is that many found it odd for someone of her young age to be in medical school. She took physiology, histology, therapeutics, chemistry, and botany, and spent her free time reading about the physiology of hearing and sight.