Susan hayhurst pharmacist biography

In 1883, at the age of 63, Hayhurst became the first woman to graduate from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.
Susan Hayhurst (December 25, 1820 – August 7, 1909) was an American physician, pharmacist, and educator, and the first woman to earn a pharmaceutical degree.
On this day (March 16th) in 1883, Susan Hayhurst became the first woman to graduate from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy - at age 62.

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Susan Hayhurst

American physician, pharmacist

Susan Hayhurst (December 25, 1820 – August 7, 1909) was an American physician, pharmacist, and educator, and the first woman to earn a pharmaceutical degree in the United States.^[1]

Early life and education

Susan Hayhurst was born in Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Quakers Thomas and Martha Hayhurst.^[2] She attended school in Wilmington, Delaware and excelled in mathematics. While a young girl, she worked as a teacher at country schools in Bucks County. Taking an interest in chemistry and physiology, she enrolled at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, and graduated with a degree in medicine in 1857.^[1]^[3]

Career

Hayhurst served as principal of the Friends' School in Philadelphia from 1857 to 1867, and for a time operated her own school, which was attended by many of her former students.^[3] During the American Civil War, she was chairman of the Committee of Supplies of the Pennsylvania Relief Association.^[4]

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The Impact of These Pioneers

The contributions of these women and others like them have had a profound impact on the pharmacy profession. Their perseverance in the face of societal barriers and gender discrimination paved the way for the increased participation of women in pharmacy.

Today, women make up the majority of pharmacists in the United States. As of 2025, approximately 59.9% of pharmacists are women, a testament to the enduring legacy of pioneers like Elizabeth Gooking Greenleaf.² Moreover, women are increasingly taking on managerial and leadership positions within the pharmacy profession.²

The story of women in pharmacy is one of steady progress. From Elizabeth Gooking Greenleaf's solitary apothecary shop in 1727 to the diverse and inclusive profession we see today, each generation of women pharmacists has built upon the achievements of those who came before. They have not only contributed to the advancement of pharmaceutical science and practice but have also played a crucial role in expand

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Women in pharmacy

Women have served widely as pharmacists.^[1] However, as with women in many jobs, women in pharmacy have been restricted. For example, only in 1964 was the American Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Pub. L. 88–352, 78 Stat. 241, enacted July 2, 1964) enacted, which outlawed refusing to hire women because of their sex including though not limited to in the profession of pharmacist.^[2]^[3] Even today, not all countries ensure equal employment opportunities for women.^[4]

Women in medieval pharmacy

Apothecary is one term for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons, and patients; the modern pharmacist has taken over this role. Throughout medieval times, apothecaries were not trained in universities as physicians were. More often, they were trained through guilds, and apprenticeship. Apothecary businesses were typically family-run, and wives or other women of the family worked alongside their husbands in the shops, learning the trade themselves. Women were s