Claire Louise Caudill

Claire Louise Caudill
Claire Louise Caudill (left) with Susie Halbleib (right), April 28, 1957
Born(1912-08-19)August 19, 1912
Morehead, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedDecember 31, 1998(1998-12-31) (aged 86)
Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
EducationOhio State University (BS)
University of Louisville
Parent(s)Daniel Boone Caudill
Rosetta Proctor
RelativesLucille Caudill Little (sister)

Claire Louise Caudill (August 19, 1912 – December 31, 1998) was an American physician from Rowan County, Kentucky. She and her nurse Susie Halbleib co-founded the St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, Kentucky. It is estimated that she delivered over 8,000 babies between 1957 and 1998.[1][2]

Biography

Claire Louise Caudill was born on August 19, 1912, in Morehead, Kentucky. She was one of five children of Daniel Boone Caudill and Rosetta Proctor. From 1930 to 1934, she attended Ohio State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in education. While attending Ohio State, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi. In 1946, Caudill received her medical doctorate from the University of Louisville.[1][3]

After receiving her medical doctorate, Caudill traveled to Oneida, Kentucky, where she met Susie Halbleib, a nurse at Oneida Maternity Hospital. She and Halbleib traveled to Caudill's hometown of Morehead, where they opened a medical practice. The pair spent most of their time visiting homes, delivering babies, and advocating for advances in healthcare in Eastern Kentucky.[1][4]

At the time, there was no hospital in the area. People across the region had to go to Lexington, Ashland, or Cincinnati to receive healthcare. Caudill was determined to ensure quality healthcare for people in the region, and she played a significant role in the establishment of the St. Claire Regional Medical Center in 1961. The hospital is named in her honor. [1][5]

Caudill delivered an estimated 8,000 during the 50 years she practiced medicine. She would continue to practice medicine until her death in 1998.[2] In 1994, she received the country doctor of the year award. She was chosen over 100 nominees that practiced medicine in rural areas.[5] Caudill was interviewed by CBS, and was featured in USA Today.[1] In 1999, her portrait was installed in the Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort.[6]

Morehead State University awards the C. Louise Caudill Scholarship for women. The scholarship is for female students wishing to enter a career in medicine or healthcare.[7][8]

Bibliography

Gish, Shirley (1999). "Country Doctor: The Story of Dr. Claire Louise Caudill". UKnowledge. The University Press of Kentucky.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Dr. Claire Louise Caudill". Rowan County, Kentucky. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  2. ^ a b "Louise Caudill Oral History Collection | Oral Histories | Morehead State University". scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  3. ^ University, Ohio State (1934). Makio: Volume LIII (1934). Ohio State University.
  4. ^ "Nurse who fought to create St. Claire Regional Medical Center dies at 96". ABC 36 News. 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  5. ^ a b "A Lifetime of Care: Dr. Claire Louise Caudill's Legacy Continues". St. Claire Healthcare. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  6. ^ "Daily News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  7. ^ "Scholarships". St. Claire Healthcare. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  8. ^ "KHIS Scholarships". Morehead State University.