Halle Tanner Dillon Johnson

Halle Tanner Dillon Johnson (October 17, 1864 – April 26, 1901) was an American physician and the first woman to be licensed as a physician in the U.S. state of Alabama.

Early life and education Johnson was born Halle Tanner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 17, 1864, the oldest daughter of Benjamin Tucker Tanner and Sarah Elizabeth Tanner, prominent figures in the local African-American community. She was the oldest of nine siblings, including four sisters, two brothers, and two siblings who died in infancy. Johnson's father was a minister at the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh who also wrote several books, Her brother was the painter Henry Ossawa Tanner. Her niece was Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, the first black woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D and the first president of Delta Sigma Theta.

In June 1886, Johnson married Charles Dillon and moved to Trenton, New Jersey. In 1887, they had a child together named Sadie Dillon who died from pneumonia about two years after their marriage. Johnson began her career by taking the Alabama state medical examination, a 10-day oral examination administered by the leading physicians of the state. She began this process by submitting her application to the board of examiners on August 17, 1891, and started the exam soon after. This rigorous exam required participants to give written responses to verbal questions from the state health office. Dr. Dillon scored a 78.81%, 3.81% higher than the requirement to pass (75%).

Johnson worked at the Tuskegee Institute from 1891 to 1894. She also was accompanied by her father, who lectured for a year at the institute's Bible School. Johnson's taught up to two classrooms per term, teaching courses on anatomy and hygiene. Her contributions at Tuskegee Institute earned her a salary of 600 dollars a year, including room and board, and she was given a month of vacation each year. Additionally, Johnson founded a nursing school as well, practiced medicine and pharmacy in the community, and founded the Lafayette Dispensary for locals. She is buried at Nashville's Greenwood Cemetery.