ELLIS, CONSTANCE (1872-1942), medical practitioner, was born on 2 November 1872
at Carlton, Melbourne, sixth child of Louis Ellis, deputy sheriff and later
sheriff of Victoria, and his wife Lydia Constance, née Phillips; both parents were
born in New South Wales of Jewish stock. 'Connie' herself never married. In 1886
she entered the Presbyterian Ladies' College, where she completed a brilliant
scholastic career in 1890. She enrolled for the medical course at the University
of Melbourne in 1894, and from 1896 to 1898 attended the Janet Clarke hostel,
Trinity College, as a non-resident. She gained honours in every year of the
course, and at the final examinations in March 1899 came second in surgery and
third in medicine. This entitled her to a residentship at the (Royal) Melbourne
Hospital, and after a year there she spent a further two years residency at the
(Royal) Children's Hospital. She took up general and obstetric practice in
Wattletree Road, Malvern.
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Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
Constance Ellis became the first woman graduate of the University of Melbourne to obtain the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) in March 1903. She joined the pathology department of the Queen Victoria Hospital in 1902 and was honorary pathologist from 1908 until 1919. Ellis was the first woman to become a demonstrator and lecturer of Pathology at the University of Melbourne.
A foundation member of the Lyceum Club, Ellis was also a member of the Medical Women’s Society, the Australian Association for Fighting Venereal Diseases, the Victorian branch of the British Medical Association, the National Council of Women of Victoria, the Victorian Baby Health Centre Association and the Emily McPherson College.
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1886 - 1890
Educated at Presbyterian Ladies' College (PLC)
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1894
Enrolled for the medical course at the University of Melbourne
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1896 - 1898
Attended Janet Clarke hostel, Trinity College, as a non-resident
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March 1899
At the final examinations Ellis came second in surgery and third in medicine
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1902
Joined the honorary staff of the Queen Victoria Hospital
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March 1903
Obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine (by examination)
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1908 - 1919
Honorary pathologist at the Queen Victoria Hospital
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1911
President of the Old Collegians' Association (PLC)
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1911 - 1942
Council member of the College of Domestic Economy (later Emily McPherson College)
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1912
Vice-president and one of the founders of the Lyceum Club (Melb.)
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1918 - 1919
President of the Lyceum Club
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1920 - 1942
Vice-president of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association
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1925
Took part in PLC's jubilee congress, a two-day discussion on social and welfare matters
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July 1925
Became a member of the first committee of the Melbourne Business and Professional Women's Club
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1932 - 1934
Council president of the Emily McPherson College
View the full record at
Australian Women's Register
Constance Ellis was the first women to graduate with a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Melbourne (1903). Her undergraduate record was outstanding as she gained honours in every year of her course and in her final year exams came second in surgery and third in medicine. Ellis gained a one-year residentship at the Melbourne Hospital and later established a private obstetrics and general medicine practice in Malvern. She held many other posts at various hospitals around Melbourne. Constance Ellis was also an inaugural council member of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association and its vice-president from 1920 to 1942; president of the Medical Women's Society; councillor of the British Medical Association, Victorian branch; and the first Australian female councillor of the parent British Medical Association.
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1894 - 1899
Education - Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Bachelor of Surgery (ChB) completed at the University of Melbourne
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c. 1900
Career position - Resident at the Melbourne Hospital
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1901 - 1902
Career position - Resident at the Children's Hospital, Melbourne
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1902 - 1907
Career position - Honorary Surgeon at the Queen Victoria Hospital
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1903
Education - Doctor of Medicine (MD) received from the University of Melbourne
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1908 - 1919
Career position - Honorary Pathologist at the Queen Victoria Hospital
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1918 - 1919
Career position - Founder and President of the Lyceum Club
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1920 - 1942
Career position - Vice-President of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association
View the full record at
Encyclopedia of Australian Science