Jessie W. Hirst, a Professor Who Challenged Prejudice towards Western Medicine.

Abstract

Dr. Hirst (1864-1952) (Fig. 1) was a medical missionary who made great contributions to the advancement of medicine in Korea. He served as a missionary for 40 years in Korea, from 1894 to 1934. Fig. 1 Dr. J. W. Hirst (1864-1952). Along with Dr. Avison (Ph.D.), Professor Jesse Watson Hirst [Korean Name: Huh Si-Tae (許時泰: 1864-1952)] was a leader at Severance Hospital from its establishment in 1904. He served for about 30 years as the first head professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Severance Hospital Medical School, then as the director of the hospital, and ultimately as a royal physician. As a medical missionary, he greatly contributed to establishing the foundation of Severance Hospital and was passionately dedicated to the advancement of modern medicine in Korea, particularly in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as the Department of Nursing.