Thompson, Georgia Emily, M.D.

Dr. Georgia Emily Thompson, born in New York, was a pioneering physician and surgeon who became the only woman conducting an independent medical and surgical practice in Fresno, California. She descended from a distinguished Empire State family, including a great-grandfather who served as a color bearer at Yorktown in 1781 and a father, George W. Thompson, who served in the Fiftieth New York Engineers during the Civil War. Her early education was split between Denver public schools and Southern California, followed by two years at Denver University. She then attended Leland Stanford, Jr., University, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1910 and her M. D. degree in 1914.

After completing her medical training, Dr. Thompson initially began practicing medicine and surgery in San Francisco. In 1916, she moved to Fresno County and opened her professional office to serve the local community. Her career in Fresno established her as a practitioner of acknowledged ability within a field traditionally dominated by men. Through her independent practice, she made significant contributions to the healthcare landscape of early twentieth-century Fresno.