Tuesday, October 13 was Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Lovelace is considered to be the first computer programmer, as she worked with a friend, Charles Babbage, on his “Analytical Engine” in 1842, and essentially wrote “programs” for the machine. Few people know that what is now considered to be a male-dominated field was technically pioneered by a woman. In 2009, Ada Lovelace Day was founded with the aim of raising the profile of women in scientific or mathematically-based fields such as programming, engineering and medicine.
While the nursing profession has generally been associated with women for generations, other medical professions have been traditionally associated with men, especially the role of physician or doctor. In the past few decades, that has changed dramatically, as women are entering the medical and health care professions from all angles. Lovelace Health System employs hundreds of women in various medical fields, including female physicians, therapists, technicians and, of course, nurses.
We would like to highlight the important role women play in our medical workforce here and around the world on Ada Lovelace Day. We encourage you to take a moment out of your day to consider the important work that women do in all STEM fields.