European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 30, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Women surgeons he tried to persuade me that in the responsible duties of relieving ills which the flesh is heir to it is appropriate that Man be the physician and woman the nurse. Or. Elizabeth Blackwell the United states first woman physician in 1846. I think what galvanized me into becoming a doctor was the College biology teacher who said to me dead seriously but Bonna women just Don t do that " or. Bonna Coulter surgeon in 1978. By Leslie Bennetts new York times Bonna Coulter s reply at the time was Crisp that s the most ridiculous thing i Veever heard she went on to become not Only doctor but also a surgeon which even today is rare Choice for women. Perhaps the most male dominated of All medical specialities surgery has been among the slowest to extend an often grudging Welcome to females. Now even surgery is beginning to feel the Impact of an increasing number who Are willing to persevere against the formidable demands of the profession along with what can be considerable opposition from some of its More traditional male practitioners. Few find the process easy. Coulter s experiences Are the subject of a recent Book. You re the Only one Here who does t look like a doctor by Marie Claude Wrenn. But. At the age of 31, Coulter is now an established Gen eral surgeon with a private practice in York pa., having joined the ranks of what is still a very Small group. According to James Haug director of the depart or. Olga Jonasson left is one of few women surgeons but the picture is changing.-. �.5n i. I a yarn Tim or. Christine Mroz resents certain questions that Only Are asked of women. Ment of surgical practice at the american Coll Geof surgeons As recently As 1970 there were Only 2,129 female surgeons in the country out of 86,000 surgeons or 2.5 percent. By 1976, there were 3.362, or 3.4 percent. But it s just been in the last two or three years that the number of women in medical schools has really taken off Haug Points out. The numbers Are now rising so rapidly it s hard to keep a handle on  this year s graduating class of 165 at Harvard medical school for example contained 54 women five of whom Are entering surgical specialities compared with 15women out of 139 a decade ago. Women Are also diversifying in their Choice of special to. In 1970, 63 percent of women surgeons were in Obstet pcs gynaecology and Only 15 percent were general surgeons six years later 23 percent were general surgeons with 56 percent in of gyn. That the numbers Are still so Small is not surprising to those for whom an absolute prohibition on women in sur Gery remains a vivid memory re fv1 w3s app1 in8 or a residency in 1965," say sir. Pat Numann a general surgeon at upstate medical Center in Syracuse  they would just Tell you they a women. It was very acceptable to admit although men today rarely display the overt hos Tufty Many older women encountered the male mystique surrounding surgery remains a potent Force. The decisions of the surgeon As team Leader Are final tet Isi Rev Hsi Fily twi ing to a Cepl women int role of the. All powerful decision maker observes. Olga Jonasson chief of surgery at Chicago s Cook of the most prominent Page 14 the stars and stripes. In the View of Mary Roth Walsh author of a Book called doctors Ivan fed no women need apply surgeons have a great Deal of Power there s a magical component in being Able to achieve such dramatic results and the fact that it s powerful Means it s also lucrative. The Money Factor should never be  nor should the male ego Many women maintain. Sur Gery has been built up a real Macho image Walsh says. And the fact that women Haven t been there becomes just another reason for keeping them  male doctors have frequently asserted that women Lack the stamina to endure the rigorous physical de mands of surgery or w most surgeons had the attitude that it s too strenuous a for girls says or. Christine Haycock a general surgeon p. In Newark n.  you have to be Able to operate and keep ,.going when you re dead on your  so another deterrent for women has been the time commitment surgery requires. By other resident cups Don t take As Long paediatrics can be Only two years compared with surgery s six and May Oiler More flexibility unlike surgery where a full time residency is mandatory. As head of a Large residency program i have be " in order to get into j medical school women have to be More stereotypically Ujj male than men do " j wednes