Theodora Clemens Hall (née Easterfield; 12 June 1902 – 19 December 1980) was a New Zealand medical doctor. She was born in Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand on 12 June 1902.[1] Her father was Thomas Easterfield, a professor of chemistry and physics, and her sister Dr Helen Deem.[1]

Hall attended Wellington Girls' College. She graduated MB ChB from the University of Otago in 1926.[1] She became a house surgeon at Wellington Hospital, followed by two years as a registrar at Cook Hospital in Gisborne.[1] She did post-graduate study in London in the early 1930s[1][2] gaining her MRCP diploma in 1932.[3] She was the second New Zealand woman to obtain the MRCP.[2] She was appointed to Cook Hospital in Gisborne in 1935.[1][2] In 1932 she married Dr Richard John Burnside Hall (1894–1907) who was surgeon superintendent at Cook Hospital.[4] As surgeon and physician they were described as "the backbone of the Cook Hospital medical service".[4]

The Halls moved to Paihia in 1958 when Richard retired but Theodora continued to work as a physician at the Bay of Islands Hospital.[1][4] She held that role until 1971.[1]

Personal life edit

The Halls had three daughters.[4] Hall died in 1980.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Dowding, Shirley. "Theodora Clemens Hall". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Notable Record. New Registrar for Cook Hospital". Gisborne Times. 21 June 1935. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via PapersPast.
  3. ^ Maxwell, Margaret D. (1990). Women doctors in New Zealand : an historical perspective, 1921–1986. Auckland, N.Z.: IMS (N.Z.). p. 190. ISBN 0-473-00798-3. OCLC 25456512.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Obituary. Richard John Burnside Hall". New Zealand Medical Journal. 100 (832): 607–608. 23 September 1987.