Biographical entry O'Reilly, Susannah Hennessy (1881 - 1960)

Summary

Susannah Hennessy O'Reilly was a popular family doctor and obstetrician. Her application for a residential post at Sydney Hospital was rejected in January 1905 on the grounds that there was no suitable accommodation for a female resident medical officer, although she was an honours graduate and fourth in her year. She was also a knowledgeable bushwalker and botanist.

Details

Events

1903

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Sydney

1905

Education - Bachelor of Medicine (MB), Master of Surgery (ChM) completed at the University of Sydney

1905 - 1907

Career position - Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne and the Royal Hospital for Women in Paddington, Sydney

1908 - 1948

Career position - Joined her father's practice and worked there until her retirement

1921

Career position - Co-founder of the New South Wales Association of Registered Medical Women

1926 - 1941

Career position - Consulting Physician at the Rachel Forster Hospital for Women and Children

1948

Life event - Retired

1959 - 1960

Career position - Life Governor of the Rachel Forster Hospital for Women and Children

Published resources

Book Sections

• Mitchell, Ann M.; Steven, Margaret, 'O'Reilly, Susannah Hennessy (1881-1960), Medical Practitioner', in Geoffrey Serle (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 11, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1988, pp. 95-96. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110105b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'O'Reilly, Susannah Hennessy', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1469180. Details