Mary Edwards Walker

Mary Edwards Walker was an American physician who earned her medical degree from Syracuse Medical College in 1855 and served during the Civil War as the first female surgeon employed by the United States Army, first as a volunteer and later on official appointment. She repeatedly crossed battle lines to treat wounded soldiers and civilians, was captured and imprisoned by Confederate forces, and in 1865 became the only woman ever awarded the Medal of Honor for her wartime service. She remained an outspoken advocate for women's rights and dress reform for the rest of her life, and to date she is still the only woman to hold the Medal of Honor.