Jean Sandel
Jean Mary Sandel (26 December 1916 – 4 November 1974) was a New Zealand surgeon, and the first New Zealand woman to be made a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1947. Early lifeSandel was born in Gisborne, East Coast, New Zealand on 26 December 1916, though she grew up in Taumaranui.[1] She attended New Plymouth Girls High School where she was head girl[1][2] and dux in 1932 and 1933.[3] At the University of Otago medical school she won a number of prizes: the Senior Scholarship in Medicine 1936; the Scott Memorial Medal 1936; the Fowler Scholarship 1937; the A.F.J. Mickle prize 1938; the William Ledingham Christie Medal in applied anatomy 1938; the New Zealand Graduates’ Clinical Prize 1938.[4] Her 5th year dissertation was on the health and living conditions of Māori in the King Country.[5] She graduated MBChB in 1939.[6] CareerOn completing her degree Sandel worked as a surgeon at Wellington Hospital before going to London to do postgraduate training and work as a surgical registrar.[1] In 1947 Sandel was the first New Zealand woman to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.[1][2][7] She returned to New Zealand in late 1949.[8] In 1950 she took up a surgical position at New Plymouth Hospital where she became Director of Surgery in 1964.[1][2][3] She was known for her technical ability in surgery and knowledge of surgical anatomy.[1] She was made a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1957.[2] As well as her professional achievements she also encouraged other young women through the Federation of University Women. She also gardened and followed sports.[1] She belonged to the Presbyterian church and left it bequests in her will.[3] Sandel never married and died in New Plymouth on 4 November 1974.[1][4] LegacyA number of places in New Plymouth are named after Sandel. A Sandel Memorial window at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in New Plymouth was dedicated in 1975 and a Jean Sandel Memorial Garden was created at the hospital beside the chapel.[3] The Jean Sandel Retirement Village is named after her.[9] A portrait of Sandel, painted by artist Craig Primrose, was unveiled at the retirement village in 2021.[10] References
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