Justina Ford

Justina Ford (1871 – 1952) was an American physician and the first African-American female doctor in Denver, Colorado. She was known for her dedication to providing medical care to communities in Denver that were otherwise marginalized and had limited access to healthcare services. Throughout her career, Ford faced significant racial and gender discrimination, but she persevered and left a lasting legacy in the field of medicine.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Justina Laurena Warren was born in 1871 in Knoxville, Illinois, to Pryor Warren and Malissa Brisco. From a young age, Ford was interested in medicine, often accompanying her mother, a nurse, to help care for sick neighbors. Despite the societal expectations for women, and particularly African-American women at the time, Ford was determined to pursue a career in medicine.

Ford attended Hering Medical College in Chicago, one of the few medical schools that accepted women and African-Americans. In 1899, she graduated with her medical degree, overcoming significant obstacles due to her race and gender.

Career[edit | edit source]

After her marriage to Baptist minister John Ford, Justina Ford moved to Denver, Colorado, where she hoped to start her medical practice. However, she encountered resistance from the local medical community. The Colorado Medical Society refused her membership because she was African-American and a woman, which also meant she could not practice in any of the city's hospitals.

Undeterred, Ford opened her own practice in her home in the Five Points neighborhood, an area known for its diverse population. She specialized in obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics, providing care to patients regardless of their race or ability to pay. It is estimated that over her 50-year career, Ford delivered around 7,000 babies, earning her the nickname "the lady doctor."

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Justina Ford's contributions to medicine and her community were recognized later in her life and posthumously. In 1950, she was finally admitted to the Colorado and American Medical Associations. The Justina Ford Medical Society, an organization supporting African-American health professionals in Colorado, was named in her honor.

Her former home, where she lived and worked for many years, is now the Black American West Museum and Heritage Center, dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of African-Americans in the West, including Dr. Ford's significant contributions.

Death[edit | edit source]

Justina Ford passed away on October 14, 1952. Her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched and the barriers she broke down for future generations of African-American female physicians.