Born: 7 October 1845, Switzerland
Died: 7 November 1916
Country most active: Switzerland
Also known as: Marie Vögtlin
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
She was born in Zurich, her father was a clergyman and her mother a highly cultured woman of charming disposition. She attended a finishing school in Neuenburg.
Shortly after her mother died and Marie with another sister took care of their home, which was now removed to Brugg. Here she found time and opportunity to study Latin, mathematics and natural science. She told her father of her desire to study medicine, and while he was willing, other relatives would not hear of it. The Press, the voice of popular opinion, condemned it. The University of Zurich opened its doors to female students in 1867. The following year Marie applied for admission as the first Swiss female medical student. With her entered four other foreign women.
In 1870, she passed the entrance examination; in 1873, the state examination. But with all her energy and courage, her diploma was not a license. She spent some time in study in Leipzig and in Dresden, where she became an assistant and wrote her thesis.
In 1874, she returned to Zurich, where, at last, she received her license to practice as a physician. She was the first woman physician in Europe. In 1875 she was married to Professor Albert Heim. After marriage she retained her practise, devoting herself chiefly to diseases of women and children. The work progressed so rapidly that in 1901 a hospital for Women and Children was opened. All members of the staff were women. Dr. Heim kept the supervision of the children’s division under her personal control until her death.