Posted @withregram • @makingqueerhistory [Image Description: black and white photo of a group of six people with Princess Vera Gedroitz]⠀ Princess Vera Gedroitz was born on April 7, 1870.⠀ ⠀ An open lesbian Vera Gedroitz became a doctor working in underserved areas for some of her career. During her time there, she performed 248 operations including amputations, herniation repair, and bone setting. She noticed that poor working conditions were causing more health problems and wrote a list of recommendations, including proper hygiene and sanitation, providing washing tubs, and serving hot meals.⠀ ⠀ In 1904, Gedroitz volunteered to go to the front lines of the Russo-Japanese War with the Red Cross. Within the first month, she treated up to 1,255 patients and became known for her thorough care of a wide range of injuries. She was appointed Chief Surgeon of the hospital train and ignored standard protocol in favour of treating abdominal wounds. She became the first person to perform laparotomies on military patients. Because of her experience with abdominal surgeries and her quick response time, her success rate was quite high. Her work led to changes in recommendations in international medical journals to support her methods.⠀ ⠀ In 1909 the Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna invited Gedroitz to become the senior resident physician at the Tsarskoye Selo Court Hospital, making her the first female physician of the royal household. While working there she trained the Tsarina and her daughters to become nurses, even writing a textbook for them of medical information in laymen's terms. ⠀ ⠀ It was during her time at the Tsarskoye Selo Court Hospital that she returned to a choice she'd embraced in childhood, wearing traditionally masculine clothing. She was open about her relationships with women. She also began writing, becoming a member of the Poets Guild and supporting young writers.⠀ #princessveragedroitz #queerdoctor #lgbtdoctor #lesbian #lesbiandoctor #lesbianhistory #russianhistory #lgbt #queer #queerhistory #lgbthistory #gayhistory https://www.instagram.com/p/B_h1Tg4DTSIlaAy2JmYLzEjQpiZWs13tYs9Kfw0/?igshid=vdsjhjhmznik
