Lydia Rabinowitsch-Kempner

Lydia Rabinowitsch-Kempner (born at Kovno, Russian Empire, currently Kaunas, Lithuania, August 22, 1871–August 3, 1935) was an American physician.

She was educated at the girls' gymnasium of her native city, and privately in Latin and Greek, subsequently studying natural sciences at the universities of Zurich and Bern (M.D.). After graduation she went to Berlin, where Professor Koch permitted her to pursue her bacteriological studies at the Institute for Infectious Diseases. In 1895 she went to Philadelphia, where she was appointed lecturer and, subsequently, professor at the Medical School for Women. There she founded a bacteriological institute, though still continuing her studies every summer under Professor Koch. In 1896 she delivered before the International Congress of Women at Berlin a lecture on the study of medicine by women in various countries. In 1898 she married Dr. Walter Kempner of Berlin. At the congress of scientists held at Breslau in 1904 she presided over the section for hygiene and bacteriology.