What's In a Name?

The title of this site is a reference to Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first African American woman physician in the US. She graduated from the New England Female Medical College in 1864, 2 years before Dr. Preston became the Dean of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1866. In 1883, Dr. Crumpler published A Book of Medical Discourses.

This name was chosen to honor Dr. Crumpler and her contributions to medicine and discourse. We would like to continue in her tradition of identifying medical conversations that are not happening, and encouraging physicians and the general public alike to engage in difficult conversations openly.