Mary J. Blood

is honored with a Brick from Soroptimist International of Wichita, KS, Inc.

Retired Physician, Pediatrics

EDUCATION:
Kansas University Medical School, 1949. Eight in class were women. Dr. Mary Blood was first in her class in grades.
Wayne University, Detroit, Michigan, Masters in Medical Technology.
Wichita University, 1936, Bachelors in Chemistry.

CAREER:
After her chemistry degree at WSU, she worked at Wesley Hospital lab without pay for a year in order to get experience. After obtaining her masters, she worked at Wesley Hospital lab for several years before entering medical school. She started practicing medicine in Wichita in 1952 in the field of pediatrics. In her second year, she purchased a house at 647 N. Hillside and converted it to an office. Retired December 31, 1985.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics 1955. Kansas Medical Society and Sedgwick County Medical Society. President of Staff of St. Joseph Hospital and served on Board of Directors. Vice-President of Staff of St. Francis Hospital and served on Board of Directors.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Kansas Children's Service League. Wichita Children's Home. Wichita State University, Dean's Visiting Committee in College of Health Professions. Soroptimist International of Wichita, KS Inc.; President, 1988-1989 and served on Board.

WSU SCHOLARSHIP:
Established a scholarship in her name at Wichita State University for the College of Health Professions.

HOBBIES:
Travel, silversmithing, enameling and cloisonn‚, and makes clothes for dolls.

PERSONAL:
After Dr. Blood purchased and reconverted a house for her office, her little patients would say, "We're going to Dr. Blood's house." About 450 people attended her retirement open house. Some of their comments follow:

"The most outstanding thing about her is her giving attitude. She never seems to be in a hurry when she's with you." "I never would have thought the worst news I would receive was that my pediatrician was retiring before my children reached adolescence." "She has a lot of love in her heart." "She told me once she thinks of all the children as her own." "When our children were little and got sick, she'd tell us, 'our baby is doing well today'. She's more like a mother to us all... We'll really miss her." "I feel there's never been a more dedicated and devoted doctor than she is. She helped us through some very serious illnesses and even made house calls when the children were ill and we couldn't get in to see her." "We feel she is one of our family." "She has been doctor to three generations of our family." "The children liked and trusted her. She is beloved by her patients."

Her two nurses and receptionist were with her from 18 to 24 years like one family.

July 28, 1998