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  • Title: Dr. Beatrice Tucker - Chicago Maternity Center
  • Location: Chicago, IL
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Dr. Beatrice Tucker ("Tux") (1897–1984) graduated Rush Medical College in 1922 and was the first woman resident at the University of Chicago Lying-In Hospital. In 1932 Tux became the Director of the Chicago Maternity Center (CMC), a role she held for 40 years. At 1336 S. Newberry St., the CMC tirelessly provided safe home deliveries for women in the impoverished neighborhood. CMC doctors delivered >100,000 babies.Tux crusaded for women’s access to birth control, abortion, and home births. Northwestern University’s School of Medicine confers the Beatrice Tucker, MD, Award in Ob/Gyn for service and advocacy in women’s health.Bruce Bartlow, MD, remembers his friend. "I was one of the thousands of medical Residents taught by Tux. When I met Tux, she was a 6' tall Pixie in black mini-skirt, two dozen bracelets, surrounded by adoring and stressed-out birth attendants, transport people, nurses, and bewildered medical students. She fought for the Center with her last breaths."