Theodora Hall

Theodora Clemens Hall (née Easterfield; 12 June 1902 – 19 December 1980) was a New Zealand medical doctor. She was born in Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand on 12 June 1902.[1] Her father was Thomas Easterfield, a professor of chemistry and physics, and her sister Dr Helen Deem.[1]

Hall attended Wellington Girls' College. She graduated MB ChB from the University of Otago in 1926.[1] She became a house surgeon at Wellington Hospital, followed by two years as a registrar at Cook Hospital in Gisborne.[1] She did post-graduate study in London in the early 1930s[1][2] gaining her MRCP diploma in 1932.[3] She was the second New Zealand woman to obtain the MRCP.[2] She was appointed to Cook Hospital in Gisborne in 1935.[1][2] In 1932 she married Dr Richard John Burnside Hall (1894–1907) who was surgeon superintendent at Cook Hospital.[4] As surgeon and physician they were described as "the backbone of the Cook Hospital medical service".[4]

The Halls moved to Paihia in 1958 when Richard retired but Theodora continued to work as a physician at the Bay of Islands Hospital.[1][4] She held that role until 1971.[1]

Personal life

The Halls had three daughters.[4] Hall died in 1980.[4]

References

1. Dowding, Shirley. "Theodora Clemens Hall". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
2. "Notable Record. New Registrar for Cook Hospital". Gisborne Times. 21 June 1935. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via PapersPast.
3. Maxwell, Margaret D. (1990). Women doctors in New Zealand : an historical perspective, 1921–1986. Auckland, N.Z.: IMS (N.Z.). p. 190. ISBN 0-473-00798-3. OCLC 25456512.
4. "Obituary. Richard John Burnside Hall". New Zealand Medical Journal. 100 (832): 607–608. 23 September 1987.