Rahel Hirsch bust before us stands as a testament to a remarkable woman. This bronze sculpture honors Rahel Hirsch a German physician and professor. She worked at the Charité medical school in Berlin. Hirsch achieved a historic milestone in 1913. She became the first woman in the Kingdom of Prussia to be appointed a professor of medicine.
The Rahel Hirsch bust was created by German sculptor Susanne Wehland. Notice Hirsch is depicted with a funnel body. A single hand is also part of the monument. You can see traces of test tubes. These elements symbolize her role as a scientist. See the foot emerging from the sculpture. It represents the dawn of a new role for women in medicine.
Rahel Hirsch was born in Frankfurt am Main in 1870. She was one of eleven children. Her father Mendel Hirsch directed the girls’ school of the Jewish religious community. Rahel’s paternal grandfather was the eminent rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.
From 1885 to 1889 Rahel studied for her teaching degree in Wiesbaden. She worked as a teacher until 1898. German Reich did not allow women to study medicine. So she studied in Zurich Switzerland. In 1899 she studied in Leipzig and Strasbourg. She earned her medical degree in 1903.
In 1906 Rahel Hirsch made a groundbreaking discovery. She demonstrated that small solid particles could penetrate the kidneys. These particles could pass into the urine. The previous belief was that only liquids could do this. Initially her research was mocked. It was even ignored. Later in 1957 G Volkheimer recognized her work. He named it the “Hirsch Effekt”.
Hirsch was hired as an intern at the Medical Clinic of the University of Berlin at the Charité. She worked as an assistant to Professor Friedrich Krause. She worked alongside surgeon Ernst von Bergmann. She worked with anatomist Wilhelm von Waldeyer-Hartz too.
In 1908 Hirsch became head of the polyclinic at the Charité’s Medical Clinic. She was never a paid employee. After being replaced she started her own practice in Berlin. Her private practice had modern x-ray equipment. Her wealthy clientele allowed her to live comfortably.
As a Jewish woman Hirsch was prohibited from teaching. She wrote “Physical Culture of Women”. This countered the prejudice against physical activity for women. She favored naturally fitting clothing. Hirsch wanted to improve women’s public health. She raised awareness about hygiene nutrition and physical strengthening.
As Jewish persecution grew Hirsch lost opportunities. In 1938 her license to practice medicine was revoked. She escaped to England. She was 68.
In England Hirsch worked as a librarian and lab assistant. She couldn’t practice medicine. The Nazis’ treatment caused her depression. She experienced hallucinations. She was committed to Friern Hospital. She died there in 1953.
Her reputation was upheld by G. Volkheimer. Many textbooks refer to the “Hirsch Effekt”. Israel honored her in the gallery of Famous Jewish Scientists. In 1995 a bronze statue of Rahel Hirsch was placed in the old lecture hall at the Charité. Germany issued a postage stamp in 2013 to commemorate her. The Rahel-Hirsch-Schule was named after her. A road near Berlin Hauptbahnhof also bears her name.
This Rahel Hirsch bust stands here at Charité. It serves as a permanent reminder of her enduring legacy. It honors her struggles and triumphs. It celebrates her contributions to medicine. Let us reflect on her remarkable life and the impact she had. She paved the way for women in science. She inspires us to challenge boundaries and pursue knowledge.