Jessie Gray

Jessie Catherine Gray (August 26, 1910 – October 16, 1978) was a Canadian cancer surgeon, educator, and researcher. Known as the Canadian "First Lady of Surgery", Gray is described as a trailblazer for women surgeons and an example that women could excel in the male-dominated field of general surgery. During her career, she was considered one of the top four cancer surgeons in North America, and she earned many firsts and fellowships in her field.

Early life and education Gray was born in Augusta, Georgia, United States, on August 26, 1910. When she was two years old, her family moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she was schooled and lived and worked for the rest of her life. She also served as president of the medical women's organization for undergraduates, participated in sports such as tennis and hockey, and won a scholarship for "all-round competence". In 1931, she obtained her Bachelor of Science with honors from the university and continued there to obtain her Doctor of Medicine in 1934. The Faculty of Medicine awarded her the gold medal for highest academic standing of her graduating class; she was the first woman to receive this medal. (however, Jennie Smillie Robertson was the first recorded female surgeon in Canada; She completed two internships at the Toronto General Hospital before re-entering the University of Toronto in 1936, as the first woman accepted to its prestigious Gallie Course in surgery. In 1939, she was the first Canadian woman to graduate with a Master of Surgery. While there, she was considered one of the four top cancer surgeons in North America and aided in the creation of the first cancer detection clinic in Canada.