Person

Coghlan, Iza Frances Josephine (1868 - 1946)

Born
10 October 1868
Redfern, New South Wales, Australia
Died
1 July 1946
Mill Park, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
Medical practitioner
Alternative Names
  • Coghlan, Fanny (Also known as)

Summary

Iza Coghlan (also known as Fanny), was one of the first two women to graduate in medicine from the University of Sydney, the other being Grace Robinson (later Boelke). Coghlan established a private practice in Sydney in 1893. An early appointment was as medical referee for an insurance office, examining women applying for life insurance. From 1910 she conducted medical examinations of candidates seeking employment in the federal public service. Five years later she became a medical officer of the New South Wales Department of Public Instruction. Coghlan was co-founder and inaugural President of the New South Wales Medical Women's Society. She was a supporter of the Sydney Medical Mission; active in the St Johns Ambulance Association, giving lectures on first aid and home nursing; and formed the first women's lifesaving class in NSW at the Balmain Ladies' Swimming Club. For several years she was Secretary of the Field Botanists' Society of New South Wales.

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Details

Chronology

1893
Career event - Established a private practice in Liverpool St, Sydney
1897
Education - MB MS, University of Sydney
1910
Career event - Appointed to give medical examinations to candidates seeking employment in the federal public service
1915
Career event - Appointed as a medical officer, New South Wales Department of Public Instruction
1930
Life event - Retired
1984 -
Career event - Worked as a medical referee for the AMP office, examining women applying for life insurance

Published resources

Resource Sections

See also

  • Bygott, Ursula; Cable, Kenneth John, Pioneer Women Graduates of the University of Sydney, 1881-1921 (Sydney: University of Sydney, 1985), 55 pp. Details
  • Neve, Marjorie Hutton, This mad folly: the history of Australia's pioneer women doctors (Sydney: Library of Australian history, 1980), 174 pp. Details
  • Young, John Atherton, Sefton, Ann Jervie and Webb, Nina eds, Centenary Book of the University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine (Sydney: Sydney University Press, 1984), 568 pp. Details

Sara Maroske

Created: 16 July 2026

EOAS ID: biogs/P008096b.htm

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