English: Asha Mohammed, an undergraduate medical student, describes the work and legacy of Dr Elizabeth Casson (1881 - 1954), the first woman to receive a medical degree from the University of Bristol:

"Elizabeth was 30 when she started studying medicine at Bristol in 1913 – a move thanks in part to her uncle, Sir Isambard Owen, being the Vice-Chancellor here. She became the first woman to achieve a medical degree from the University when she graduated in 1919.

"The career change proved fortuitous, not just for Elizabeth but for the field of occupational therapy, which she went on to pioneer in the UK.

"It was during her first job in a hospital that she noticed the benefits of giving patients some voluntary artistic and occupational activities during treatment to help aid their recovery.

"In 1929, having drawn inspiration from a visit to the United States and subsequently borrowing £1,000 from her brother Lewis, she founded Dorset House in Clifton, Bristol, as a residential clinic for women with mental disorders. A year later, she launched the UK's first school of occupational therapy at the same location. There, she led occupational and artistic therapies for the promotion of psychological wellbeing, including such activities as dance, drama, and countryside excursions.

"The original Dorset House school and treatment facility grew in size, helping around 800 patients between 1929 and 1941. Elizabeth privately financed Dorset House until 1947, after which it became the Elizabeth Casson Trust in 1948.

"As a current medical student, it’s humbling to think we’re following in the footsteps of great medics like Elizabeth, whose drive and tenacity have brought about positive change for future generations."

Portrait by Jessica Augarde Photography.

Photo of Dr Elizabeth Casson reproduced with the kind permission of the Elizabeth Casson Trust.