Dame Ella MacKnight DBE MD DGO FRCOG FAMA FAGO FACOG was an Australian obstetrician and gynaecologist who worked at the Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne, making an immense contribution to women's health throughout her lifetime.
Ella Annie Noble MacKnight was born on 7th August 1904 in Urana, New South Wales, Australia. She was the fourth of five daughters of Doctor Conway MacKnight and Eliza Simpson. [1] The family moved to Albury after 1911, where her father established a medical practice. She was educated privately, before completing her formal education at Toorak College, Mount Eliza, Melbourne.
Ella graduated from the University of Melbourne, where she was resident from 1923 at Janet Clarke Hall, at that time the women's residential wing of Trinity College, in 1928 with the dual degrees Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Bachelor of Surgery (BS). After qualifying as an obstetrician and gynaecologist with Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1931 and Doctor of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (DGO) in 1936, she was associated with the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital for Women and Children, Melbourne, until retiring in 1977. Her appointments included honorary obstetrician and gynaecologist from 1935-64; vice-president of the Committee of Management for 1963-71 and president from 1971-77.
Ella was president of the Council of the Royal College of Gynaecologists from 1970 to 1972 and served as chairperson of the Blood Transfusion Committee, Victorian Division of the Red Cross Society from 1964 to 1970. Monash University conferred upon her an Honorary Doctor of Medicine in 1972.
Ella enjoyed membership and fellowship with:
Ella was created Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the New Year Honours 1969 for services to medicine. [2]
Aged 92 years, she passed away on 1st April 1997 in Malvern, Victoria. Ella never married.
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Categories: Australia, Unmarried | Urana, New South Wales | Toorak College, Mount Eliza, Victoria | University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria | Australia, Doctors | Obstetrician-Gynecologists | Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital for Women and Children, Melbourne, Victoria | Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Monash University, Clayton, Victoria | Malvern, Victoria | Australia, Notables in the Public Service and Professions | Notables