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Photo: NBA ROSINA HEIKEL first woman doctor in Finland 1842-1929 Rosina Heikel was the first woman to practise medicine in Finland and in all the Nordic countries. As a young girl, Rosina Heikel dreamt of following her brothers into the medical profession. When she was finishing school, there were no female academics in Finland. Heikel had to pursue her dream in a roundabout way. First she completed a physiotherapy course in Stockholm, then a midwifery course in Helsinki, and then returned to Stockholm to improve her knowledge of anatomy and physiology by, for example, dissecting a body that she had purchased for the purpose. In the autumn of 1870, Rosina Heikel was admitted to follow physiology lectures at the University of Helsinki. A year later, by special permission of the Emperor, she was allowed to study medicine without being officially enrolled at the University. She completed the degree of Licentiate of Medicine in 1871 and was granted restricted permission to practise medicine. The restriction concerned her patients: she was only allowed to treat women and children. Heikel never gained unrestricted permission to practise medicine. After her doctorate, a scholarship allowed her to travel widely in Europe. Afterwards, she first had a practice in Vaasa and from 1883 in Helsinki, where the post of city gynaecologist had been established for her with donated funds. In 1889 the title of the post was changed into city pediatrician and gynaecologist. Rosina Heikel was a known feminist, an advocate of women s education and an opponent of legalised prostitution. She was one the founding members of Konkordia-liitto, an academic association for women, and the women's right movement, Naisasialiitto Unioni. 1 2 3 1,2 Photo: National Board of Antiquities. 3 Rosina Heikel 1875. Photo: Atelier Charles Riis / NBA.