“All my life, I have maintained that the prejudice of the world can learn to live together in peace if they are not brought up in prejudice.” – Sara Josephine Baker
Sara Josephine Baker was born in 1873 in Poughkeepsie, NY and is known for developing new medical practices for infants. Baker decided to pursue a career as a physician at 16 when her father passed away suddenly from typhoid. Despite opposition against woman physicians, Baker graduated from the Women’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary in 1894 and joined the New England Hospital for Women and Children. Here, Baker dedicated herself to reducing illness and infant mortality in impoverished New York communities. Baker developed one of the first baby formulas and wax-sealed, single-dose containers for medicinal use. Baker also heavily campaigned to license midwives, improve milk pasteurization, and hiring nurses at every school. Baker eventually went on to teach at New York University Medical School where she also enrolled and became the first woman to obtain a doctorate in public health. She then continued her career beyond medicine as the first woman representative at the League of Nations. Overall, she published over 250 papers and wrote 5 books. Throughout her career, Baker made large strides for women and LGBTQ+ in medicine and government.