Rowena Hume

Rowena Grace Douglas Hume (January 14, 1877 – October 2, 1966) was a Canadian obstetrician and one of the founders of Toronto's Women's College Hospital. She was also the first Chief of Obstetrics at the hospital from 1911 to 1926.

Early life and education Hume was born in Galt, Ontario, in 1877. While she was in her 20s, she enrolled in the Ontario Medical College for Women and concluded her studies in 1899 when she obtained an M.D. from Trinity College. Finally, she joined the staff of her alma mater, the Ontario Medical College for Women. According to an article in The Globe and Mail, in 1930 she volunteered at the Hamilton Planned Parenthood Society once a week because they could not find any doctors willing to volunteer.

Death Hume died on October 2, 1966, when she was murdered. Donald Cooke, a handyman working in her home, was arrested, convicted of the murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Awards, recognitions and memberships In 1907 Hume joined the Academy of Medicine as a Resident Fellow, later becoming a Life Fellow (1950). In addition to her thriving career in obstetrics, she was also a member of several associations, including: The Women's Medical Alumnae Association of the University of Toronto, and the Federation of Canadian Women, where, in 1930, she became the Vice-President.