User:Jennifer Maas/Marie Derscheid

Early Life
Marie Derscheid

Marie Derscheid was raised in a liberal Belgian family with ten siblings. Derscheid's father was the Managing Director of the porcelain manufacturer, Boch. The daughters of the family benefited from their father's financial means to provide them with sound educations. Marie was trained as a teacher at the Ecole du Denier in Mons. After graduating, Derscheid was able to work as a teacher. She decided, however, to simultaneously start university studies at the University of Brussels. In 1885, she earned the title of doctor of natural sciences, then she began medical studies. A few years earlier, in 1880, the university had timidly opened its doors to women by allowing Emma Leclerq, Marie Destrée and Louise Popelin to enroll. Together these three young women managed to close the gap in the scientific – academic world, once reserved solely for males.

This was the first time that women attended the Faculty of Medicine. Medicine was considered a difficult path, requiring a working knowledge of Greek and Latin. which most students did not learn ​​during their training. This led many students to choose shorter studies, such as natural sciences or pharmacy. Moreover, at that time, women could not be sure that their medical degree would allow them to find work after graduation as there was a law in place during 1876 stipulating that the authorities would decide on the conditions under which women could be admitted to medical professions. It was not until 1884 that the general practitioner Isala Van Diest, a graduate abroad, made a breakthrough. She had for some time been running a gynecology practice in Brussels: she obtained that her situation was legalized by royal decree. This may have been a factor in encouraging Derscheid to pursue her medical career.

Derscheid finished her studies at the end of October 1893 with great distinction. She became, along with her fellow student Vanheerswynghels, the second doctor of female medicine in Belgium with a Belgian diploma. The fact that they received their medical degree generated huge buzz in the press with the newspaper Independence declaring that "it goes without saying that these two feminist successes make a tremendous impact in the academic world."

Derscheid studied abroad in Berlin, Vienna and Paris, where she specialized in orthopedics. Upon her return to Belgium, she worked at the Assisted Children's Hospice where she founded a center for orthopedic rehab, while she also opened a private practice. From 1901 to 1911, Derscheid served as head of the orphanage service in Brussels. After the World War, she was appointed medical inspector of the schools of the City of Brussels.

Derscheid was the founder of the Belgian Federation of University Women where she served as president from 1921 to 1932. She also held the role of vice-president of the Belgian Orthopedic Society and was a long term member of the Belgian Society of Surgery.