1939 - First Female Orthopadic Surgeon Joins Medical Staff at Baylor

Dr. Ruth Jackson trained in orthopaedics in Iowa prior to opening her private practice in Dallas in 1932. She joined the staff of Baylor in 1939. Dr. Jackson (pictured here in 1986) was a medical pioneer in a field still mostly made up of men. She was one of the founders of the Texas Orthopaedic Association, and she was the first female member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The Ruth Jackson Society carries on Dr. Jackson’s legacy. Forty-three female orthopaedic surgeons formed the society in 1983 as a support and networking group. The society promotes scientific, educational and charitable activities to advance the practice of orthopaedic surgery.