Women of distinction/Chapter 23
CHAPTER XXIII.
SUSAN S. McKINNEY, M. D.
More has been done along all the lines of popular education for the higher and broader development of woman during the last twenty-five years than possible during any quarter of a century in the history of American civilization. Especially is this true with regard to professional and industrial education.
The idea of woman as a regular graduated practicing physician is growing more and more popular each year, and to-day the doors of quite a number of medical colleges are open to her which were closed thirty years ago against her. And why should she not enter, as well as her brother, and prepare herself for usefulness in life? The law of God has never excluded her, nor has the law of man the right to deny to her admission into this important field of labor. Indeed, she deserves recognition and should enjoy every right in the profession that is accorded to her brother.
Such a physician of character and ability as Susan S. McKinney, M. D., of Brooklyn, N. Y., will add dignity and refinement to the practice of medicine.
Graduating, as she did, at the head of her medical class in 1870, by the united choice of both professors and students, she has, from the beginning of her practice, taken a high stand in the profession and has enjoyed a large and lucrative practice in medicine and surgery among both white and colored citizens of Brooklyn, N. Y. She enjoys the distinction of being the sister of that highly respected and honored man. Rev. Henry Hyland Garnet, D. D., who bore a national reputation. She also enjoys the distinctive honor of being the first genuine colored, woman in the United States to enter the medical profession. She has been called upon to read papers of importance before both the State and County Homeopathic Medical Societies, of which she is a member. She also belongs to the College Alumni Association, and is attached to the Memorial Hospital Dispensary Staff. The Brooklyn Times of June 27, 1891, contained the following concerning this distinguished professional lady, who undoubtedly deserves every word that has been said in praise of her merits:
When she commenced practicing here, twenty years ago, under her maiden name of Smith, she found it up-hill work to get established, sex, color and school being all against her; for in those days homeopathy was not so favorably regarded as now. Being quite young in years, and even more youthful in appearance, was another disadvantage. When about a year in practice she married the Rev. William G. McKinney, formerly located at Flemington, N. J., but now retired. Dr. McKinney is a bright little woman with sparkling black eyes and frank, pleasant expression. She has fairly outdone her white sisters in proving that a married woman can successfully follow more than one profession without neglecting her family, for she has not only acquired a reputation as a practitioner but is also a musician of acknowledged standing, being organist and director in the Bridge Street M. E. Church, where she has charge of a choir of thirty-five voices. She was a pupil of Zundel and Henry Eyre Brown, and has recently been elected Musical Director of the Brooklyn Literary Union, with her daughter. Miss Anna McKinney, who is studying music in the Pratt Institute, as assistant. Her boy is a clerk under C. P. Hunting- ton, and both children are bright, handsome and healthy-looking and show careful nurture.
Of course, such a busy woman has no time for social life, but is devoted to her family and her profession. Being the family doctor in many homes, she has a number of gentlemen patients, for the boys and girls of some families have grown up from childhood under her medical care. Many male doctors send their special female cases to her, one eminent physician having placed his mother in her care for treatment. In short, she meets with naught but courtesy and consideration from her fellow-practitioners of both sexes and schools. Two years ago she took a post-graduate course at the Long Island College Hospital, where she was the only woman student at the time. "Courage, 'grit' and physical strength are needed," she says, by the successful physician. "She must be willing to study hard with a determination to succeed."