Sister Elizabeth Kenny
Elizabeth Kenny was a self-trained Australian nurse whose unconventional methods revolutionized polio treatment and laid the foundation for modern physical therapy. Despite receiving only a few years of formal schooling, her medical journey began at age 17 after a horse-riding accident led her to study anatomy under her physician, Dr. McDonnell. He would become her lifelong mentor. In 1912, after years of self-study, Kenny opened St. Canice's clinic, offering midwifery and restorative services. It was here she first treated infantile paralysis (polio) by applying hot woolen compresses to relax tight muscles—a sharp departure from the era's standard of rigid bracing. When World War I broke out, Kenny was initially rejected for military service due to her lack of formal qualifications. However, with a recommendation from Dr. McDonnell, she served as a nurse aboard the HMAT Suevic. By 1917, she earned the title of "Sister" (equivalent to a 1st lieutenant) and was honor...