Anna Catherine Albertine Isala Van Diest was not only the first Belgian female doctor but was also a feminist and activist. She was born in a town called Leuven. In Belgium,it was impossible to become a doctor as a woman,so she completed her secondary education in Germany and her medical training in Switzerland. She has worked in England for 2 years at the new hospital for women in London. There, her interest in women's rights grew.

She founded an association that stood up for women's rights . Later she returned to Belgium to practice her profession.She founded a Belgian league for women's rights together with Marie Popelin (first female doctor of law). She has also written several books such as hygiene in prisons.

Unfortunately she died on 9 february 1916

Fun fact: Isala van diest & Marie Popelin,are the symbol of the Belgian 2 euro coins of 2012.