Anandi Gopal Joshi graduated from the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1886 at the age of 21, becoming the first Indian woman to earn a Western medical degree in the United States. Her thesis on obstetrics drew connections between American and Indian medical practice, reflecting an early exchange of medical knowledge across cultures. The achievement attracted international attention, including a congratulatory message from Queen Victoria. Joshi’s graduation established an early presence for South Asian women in American medicine and inspired generations of women to pursue medical education across national boundaries.
