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Dr. Lucinda L. Combs Strittmatter
Lucinda L. Co(o)mbs Stritmatter (October 10, 1849 -- April 23, 1919) was the first woman physician and medical missionary to serve in China and is credited with establishing the first women and children's hospital in 'Peking' (Beijing). Dr. Combs was a pioneer in women’s medical care while serving the Women's Foreign Ministry Society's North China Mission for 7 years.

Lucinda Combs was left orphaned at a young age by her parents. Her determination and industry enabled her to continue her education and enroll in a three-year seminary program in her home town of Cazenovia. After finishing her education with high marks, she enrolled at Women’s Medical College in Philadelphia, PA.

Throughout her education, Lucinda felt called to serve the Methodist mission in India. Unknown circumstances led her to be commissioned to Beijing, China in the summer of 1873. Her arrival marked the first time a female physician provided care in China. After establishing herself and slowly learning the language, Dr. Combs noticed the need for a women’s hospital in the area. After writing to the WFMS, they granted her the funds necessary to construct a women’s and children’s hospital. Dr. Combs helped alleviate the health disparities between genders.

After a short time working as a physician in the hospital as well as in the community, Lucinda married Reverend Andrew Stritmatter. The union consequently ended her responsibilities as a physician, and she moved south with her new husband promptly following the marriage.

Early Years
Lucinda, known by her friends and family as "Lucy" was born on October 10, 1849 in Cazenovia, New York. She is not known to have any siblings. At a young age, her parents died leaving her orphaned. It is unknown through which means specifically, but she supported herself following the tragedy. After converting to Christianity and committing her life to God, she became a teacher. After learning of the work being done oversees in India, Lucinda felt called to missionary work. She ultimately decided to further educate herself in order to be ready for an appointment to be a missionary in India.

Educational Background
Determined to pursue her education, Lucinda enrolled in the Cazenovia Seminary in Cazenovia, New York in 1866. The Casenovia seminary, though not theological in its purpose, was a three year program associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. After completing the program in 1869, Lucinda graduated top of her class with honors. Given her desire to serve the mission in India, and the strong need for medical professionals over seas, Lucinda set her mind on attending medical school. Not discouraged by the large cost of attending medical school and her lack of financial resources, she searched for employment doing housework for a wealthy family. After finding a family offering a promising position, Lucinda applied. The woman for whom she wished to work expressed concern that Lucinda would be unable to accomplish both her household duties and her academic responsibilities. To the dismay of many, she excelled in both. Lucinda enrolled at Women's Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She soon drew the attention of the Methodist women in Philadelphia who helped her continue her studies. It is unknown her exact date of graduation from Women's Medical College, though almost immediately upon receiving her medical degree she was commissioned by the Women's Foreign Ministry Society.

Journey to China
Although she intended to serve in India, Dr. Lucinda Combs boarded a boat for Peking, China on June 5th, 1873. She began her journey from San Francisco, but her journey was delayed due to and unfortunate illness. Her illness held in in Japan for several weeks before being well enough to continue travel. Dr. Combs arrived to Peking in late August or early September, almost three months after her original departure and quickly began her work. She is noted for being the first woman medical missionary to provide medical care in China. In 1875, Dr. Combs opened the first hospital for Chinese women. She was determined to ensure access to care regardless of social class or standing.

Establishing the First Women’s Hospital
Though medical attention had arrived about ten years prior through the London Missionary Society's appointment of Dr. Lockhart to Peking, for the most part medical services were not extended to women. Sex segregation consequently restricted women from seeking medical care from men. After writing a letter expressing her desire to open a hospital to serve native Chinese women, the Philadelphia branch of the Women's Foreign Medical Society congregated at the General Executive Committee meeting in May of 1974. During their meeting, they decided to funnel $2000 toward the establishment of a hospital for women and children in Peking. The land on which the hospital and residence building would be built was procured in December 1874. Previously inhabited by multiple household, it is unclear whether the residents evacuated on their own volition or if they were pressured off the land by the WFMS. In its first five months following its completion in November 1875, the hospital received 18 patients. Founding the first women's hospital in China gave Dr. Combs a platform to advocate for women's training and education in the medical field and for improving sanitary and hygiene practiced in relevant medical facilities. Although hesitant at first, the Chinese population in Peking soon came to appreciate the medical help provided by the missionaries.

Community Care:
During the building of the hospital, Dr. Combs served the Chinese women in their homes while learning and mastering the language. She made 198 home visits throughout her first year and treated 37 patients, some over several weeks. In her first year she prescribed for 314 cases. In addition to providing medical care, Dr. Combs made an effort to preach the gospel to the women whom she served. Her marriage to Reverend Andrew Strittmater led to her relocation to Kiu-Kiang. There she took on the work of a physician who was leading the medical work in Kiu-Kiang but had returned to the United States after becoming very ill.

Relationships
Historical records disagree on whether Dr. Lucinda Combs married Reverend Andrew Stitmatter in the year 1877 or 1878. Soon after their marriage, the couple moved to the southern part of China to a place known as JiuJiang. Although her marriage resulted in the end of her commission to the Women's Foreign Ministry Society, Dr. Combs did continue to practice medicine in her knew location. The Stitmatters had two sons names Edward and Albert who were both born in China. About two years after their move, Reverend Stritmatter contracted tuberculosis which led the couple to begin the journey back to the United States in October of 1880. The long distances traveled ultimately resulted in Reverend Stritmatter's untimely death one month later in Denver, Colorado. He died before arriving to his family home in Ohio. Dr. Combs remained in Colorado following her husband's death to raise her two children and continue practicing medicine. She never remarried.

Death
After practicing medicine in Denver for many years, Lucinda moved to Ohio where her husband's family was to spend the remainder of her days. She died in her son's home on April 23, 1919 in Franklin County, Ohio. She was 70 years old. Her grave can be visited at Union Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.



Legacy


Countless authors and historians comment on her immense love for God and her dedication to her work as a physician. Her instructors throughout her schooling also realized her determination and grit from the start. Dr. Combs was devoted to using medicine as an avenue to evangelize.

Publications
Dr. Lucinda Combs published many works during her studies and throughout her medical career. During her time at Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania she published a 22 page handwritten thesis on the study of medical hysteria. Additionally, she wrote several pieces for a publication of the Women's Missionary Methodist Episcopal Church called 'Heathen Woman's Friend.' In this periodic article, Dr. Combs published three distinct works describing her life as a missionary titled: A bright day at the Peking Hospital, The Peking Hospital, and A morning's visit at the Peking Hospital.