Born: 18 August 1912, United Kingdom
Died: 28 December 1999
Country most active: United Kingdom
Also known as: Josephine Warren, Alice Josephine Mary Taylor Barnes
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Dame Josephine Barnes, DBE, was a pioneering English obstetrician and gynecologist. She became the first female president of the British Medical Association in 1979. Barnes was active in the Women’s National Cancer Control Campaign, focusing on cancer screening. She also chaired the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital Appeal Trust and served as President of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women’s Health from 1977 to 1995. Additionally, she was President of the Royal British Nurses’ Association and played a notable role in discussions about the 1967 Abortion Act.