Author: Katarzyna Litak, M.D.
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."
On February 3, National Women Physician Day, we pay tribute to the remarkable achievements of Maria Sklodowska-Curie. While she may not have been a physician herself, the impact of her groundbreaking scientific discoveries has forever transformed the field of medicine.
Maria Skłodowska-Curie(1867-1934) while she may not have been a physician herself, the impact of her scientific discoveries has forever transformed the field of medicine.
Skłodowska-Curie’s pioneering work with radiation paved the way for advancements in diagnostic imaging techniques, such as X-rays, which have become indispensable medical diagnosis and treatment tools. Maria Skłodowska-Curie herself coined the term "radioactivity," as she worked on advancing our understanding of this fundamental scientific phenomenon. Moreover, her discovery of the elements Polonium and Radium opened new avenues for cancer treatment, leading to the development of radiotherapy and revolutionizing how we approach this disease. Notably, Skłodowska-Curie chose not to patent her discoveries, viewing them as a gift to humanity rather than a means for personal gain.
"I was born in Poland. I married Pierre Curie, and I have two daughters. I have done my work in France."
Born in Warsaw under the rule of the Russian Empire, Skłodowska-Curie embarked on her scientific journey in her hometown's laboratory, which was led by her cousin, a former assistant to Mendeleev. Hindered by her gender, she could not pursue higher education at the Imperial University of Warsaw. Nevertheless, Skłodowska-Curie and her sister engaged with the clandestine Flying University, a significant Polish patriotic and educational movement in the Russian Empire. After her sister moved to Paris to study medicine, Maria supported her by working as a governess.
At the age of 24, Skłodowska-Curie joined her sister in Paris. She enrolled at the University of Paris and graduated with degrees in physics and mathematics. Although initially intending to return to Poland, her aspirations were thwarted when she was denied a professorship position at Krakow University due to her gender. With this setback, Skłodowska-Curie returned to France and continued her scienfitic work. During this time, she crossed paths with Pierre Curie, who provided laboratory space for her. Her work inspired Pierre Curie to join her in their collaborative research endeavors. In 1895, Pierre became her husband.
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
Maria Skłodowska-Curie achieved several notable firsts throughout her career. Maria was the first woman to ever receive the prestigious Nobel Prize in 1903, and she is the only woman to have won the Nobel Prize twice, receiving the accolade in both 1903 and 1911. Furthermore, she remains the only individual to have received Nobel Prizes in multiple disciplines.
Maria Skłodowska-Curie was also a pioneer in academia. She became the first woman to obtain a doctorate in France. She broke barriers by assuming the position of Professor of General Physics in the Faculty of Sciences at the renowned Sorbonne in Paris. Her contributions to science and her immense impact on society were further recognized when she became the first woman to be interred in the prestigious Pantheon in Paris, based on her exceptional merit.
On a personal level, Skłodowska-Curie was the wife of Nobel Prize winner Pierre Curie and the mother of Irene Joliot-Curie, who would also go on to receive a Nobel Prize for her own work in radioactivity, transmutation, and nuclear physics.
Maria Skłodowska-Curie's scientific discoveries continue to inspire generations of women physicians and scientists. Facing discrimination as a young female scientist, Skłodowska-Curie asserted herself by promptly publishing her original ideas to ensure clarity and ownership as she prioritized the dissemination of her work. Unfortunately, despite her accomplishments and outstanding contributions, Skłodowska-Curie continued to encounter gender-based obstacles. She was prevented from speaking about radioactivity at the Royal Institution in London when she accompanied her husband in 1903.
“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those we think we can be most helpful."
In 1922, Skłodowska-Curie's exceptional scholarship and scientific contributions led to her election as a member of the Academy of Medicine in Paris. Her advocacy for radiotherapy, which emerged due to the discovery of natural radioactivity by Becquerel and the Curies, revolutionized therapeutic and diagnostic medical approaches. Radium, attributed to the discovery of "Mme. Curie," was prominently displayed at the Paris Expo in 1900.
During World War I, Skłodowska-Curie limited her research activities and endeavored to contribute to the war effort. She attempted to donate her gold Nobel Prize medals to support the cause. In addition, she assumed the director role of the Red Cross Radiology Service. Skłodowska-Curie was vital in procuring mobile X-ray equipment known as "Little Curies," deployed close to the front lines, providing critical medical aid to those in need. Her daughter, Irene, worked as a nurse radiographer during the war.
Throughout her life, Skłodowska-Curie proudly retained both surnames and remained deeply connected to her Polish heritage. Skłodowska-Curie actively championed the Polish cause during World War I and advocated for establishing an independent Polish state. She ensured the presence of Polish employees at the Radium Institute in Paris, considering it not only as an educational opportunity but also as a foundation for a similar institute in Poland. This vision became a reality with the establishment of the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center in free Poland in 1932. In her commitment to preserving her Polish identity, Maria taught her daughters the Polish language, employed Polish governesses, and even bestowed the name Polonium on one of the elements she discovered, derived from the Latin term for Poland, Polonia.
Maria Skłodowska-Curie was not only a groundbreaking scientist but also an activist who dedicated herself to promoting scientific cooperation, advancing knowledge, and utilizing science for the betterment of humanity. Despite facing gender bias, and exclusion, Maria fearlessly pursued her passion for learning, science, and serving others. Her dedication and remarkable contributions were widely acknowledged during her lifetime, resulting in numerous prestigious awards and honorary degrees bestowed upon her.
Skłodowska-Curie's legacy continues to inspire generations of scientists, leading to the creation of numerous biographies, plays, movies and the establishment of institutions in her honor. Her impact as a patron of various organizations further solidifies her influence on the scientific community and beyond.
"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted with something and that this thing must be attained."
Update: 9/14/23
"On Jul. 31, 1920, a local newspaper announced that a new radium hospital in Rochester, Minnesota (in operation for about 6 weeks), was officially open. The facility was called the Curie Hospital, named after Madame Marie Sklodowska Curie, who, along with her collaborator and husband Pierre Curie, discovered radium. The hospital had 36 beds for Mayo Clinic patients who needed x-ray or radium treatments. Dr. Harry H. Bowing was its medical director. Through correspondence with Curie, Dr. Bowing obtained individual autographed portraits of the two famous scientists. Madame Curie was particularly touched by his request and the honor of having the hospital named after her. As a result, she included with her late husband's photograph a scrap of paper with his signature, one of the few that she had left."
For more information visit Mayo Clinic Proceedings. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)64856-8/fulltext
To see and hear Marie Sklodowska- Curie:
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Maria Sklodowska-Curie obituary:
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1107.html?pagewanted=all
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Facts For Kids:
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