Love Rosa Hirschmann Gantt
Personal Information
Born: 1874, 1875 or 1876 depending on source.
Died: 1935
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
Medical College of South Carolina MD 1901
"None found"
— Love Rosa Hirschmann Gantt
Professional Life
Field of Study: Medicine
Institution/Corporation: Winthrop College
Degrees & Memberships: Member: American Medical Women's Association; South Carolina Equal Suffrage League (1914); American Medical Association; Spartanburg County Medical Society; Southern Medical Association; South Carolina Federation of Sisterhoods; American Red Cross
Awards & Achievements
Awards: None found
Achievements: started a mobile public health service in the southern Appalachians, working with Hilla Sheriff to bring vaccinations, nutritional education, prenatal care, dental examinations, and preventive health screenings to remote places in the South; founded the Sisterhood of Temple B'nai Israel; organized and headed the Spartanburg Health League, the Spartanburg Anti-Tuberculosis Association, and the public health and legislation committees of the South Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs; lobbied for state legislation requiring medical inspection of schoolchildren (passed in 1920);
second woman physician in the United States to become board-certified
set up a private practice in 1905 in ophthalmology and otolaryngology
was president of the American Medical Women's Association
served on the South Carolina Board of Public Welfare for five years and was legislative chairman of the South Carolina Equal Suffrage League
during World War I organized Liberty Loan drives, served on a draft board, directed recreation at Camp Wadsworth, and was commissioned as a medical examiner for Air Force pilots
there is a historic marker about her located near the site of her medical office in Spartanburg's Morgan Square
was a pioneer in public health, prevention of tuberculosis, medical inspection of schools, and social hygiene
received appointments from five South Carolina governors and three U.S. presidents
1916 was instrumental in building the first synagogue in Spartanburg SC
in WWI organized five hundred women volunteers to work in medical and other services
1924 negotiated with Oakwood Cemetery for a Jewish section which made Jewish burials possible in Spartanburg for the first time
was resident physician at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina for 1 year before she quit to marry & opened a private practice
was instrumental in establishing Spartanburg General Hospital, the first public hospital in the city
founded the Spartanburg chapter of the American Red Cross
established the state reformatory for girls
had a strong interest in Mendelian genetics
1915 spoke before the South Carolina House Judiciary Committee to garner support for the submission of a women’s suffrage amendment to the state constitution
believed in some eugenics principles
worked to decrease morbidity and mortality from pellagra