Norwood Girl Navy Doctor Stationed at Newport, R.I.-This Day In Norwood History-April 9, 1957

The doctor is a Navy lieutenant, Tufts graduate, and a girl.

She’s Lt Mary T. Lynch, now stationed at Newport Naval Hospital, Newport, R.I.-and she’s the only woman doctor in the hospital.

As a matter of fact, she’s the only woman on a Navy hospital staff in many miles, for there aren’t very many woman medics in the regular Navy.

“I’ve been told that there are only six others.” said Dr. Lvnch yesterday at the opening meeting of the American College of Physicians, at Mechanics Building. “I’ve never met another woman doctor in the Navy, I nearly have but just missed the others every time.”

Mt. Holyoke Grad

Dr. Lynch graduated from Mt. Holyoke College in 1946. from Tufts Medical School in 1950, and served at Baltimore City Hospital, Johns Hopkins and at Massachusetts Memorial Hospital—for two years—before joining the Navy.

In the service, she’s been met up for treatment and finds a woman behind a stethoscope. But no patient ever has balked at being treated by her.

Is it her rank or her uniform that impresses patients? Dr. Lynch thinks not—she suggests it’s the widespread acceptance of her generation for women in all kinds of unusual jobs or fields once closed to girls.

“Women doctors aren’t a rarity any more,” she said.

Dr. Lynch joined the Navy for a good reason: “It seems to me,” she said, “that life in the service and interest in medicine are very compatible—it’s a marvelous opening for someone interested in medicine and particularly in special fields of research who couldn’t afford such study in civilian life.”

Not Specialist Yet

Dr. Lynch is interested in internal medicine, but isn’t yet a specialist.

You could call for “Dr. Lynch” at her home in Norwood and (if all were home) three members of the family would answer you.

Her father, Dr. Charles Lynch, is a general practitioner there; her brother, Dr. Charles Lynch Jr., is a major in the Army Medical Corps.

“And Mother was a nurse,” she added. .

“But, fortunately, none of us has ever had to practice on another. We’re a pretty healthy family.”

09 Apr 1957, Tue The Boston Globe