In Catania, more precisely, in San Giovanni Galermo, a street named after Virdimura, a Catania of Jewish origin, considered one of the most important women of medicine not only in Sicily, but all over the world. A great recognition from his city and that comes after many years also because Virdimura lived in the fourteenth century. But not everyone knows this extraordinary woman and the great contribution she made to medicine. And then we'll tell you about it through the words of Cristina Tornali, president of the AIN (Italian Association for Neurodisables) and Director of the Sicilian Center of the Academy of History of Healthcare. It is she who established the Virdimura international award dedicated to women and is now in its seventh edition.
Virdimura, the decision of the toponymy commission
In recent days, the toponymy commission of the Municipality of Catania has announced the new decisions on the roads to be named after famous people. Men and women who have had an important role in society and therefore worthy of memory. The road that will be named after Virdimura is the one near the San Giovanni Galermo fire station. But the commission's decision explains that "Virdimura" was the first woman officially authorized to practice medicine and surgery in Sicily. "Recognizing Virdimura as the first female doctor in Sicily is a truth - Tornali explains -. In 1376 Italy did not yet exist and Sicily was already a kingdom.
A partial truth therefore because in reality it is not recognized in the world, despite the doctors who practiced the medical art without any authorization, no woman officially licensed with a real state exam. Universities had not yet arisen and Virdimura obtained, through the examination of a Royal Commission made up of doctors and physicists of the time, a sort of "qualifying degree".
At the moment we have no documents of other women in other places in the world before this attesting the legality of the exercise in the medical profession of another "female doctor". For this reason, Virdimura is today the first female doctor in the world ". And to corroborate this position, Tornali points out, there are many scientific studies. Research that Tornali herself together with Ignazio Vecchio, professor of History of Medicine at the University of Catania has done over the years. And sanctioned by the Society of the History of Medicine of which Elio Cardinale is president. The title was promoted by Professor Silvana Raffaele, a member of the Toponymy Commission.
Virdimura's commitment to the spread of medicine
Despite having lived in one of the most complex periods in history, the Middle Ages, Virdimura, she was one of the busiest women of her time. Authorized to practice medicine and surgery after passing an exam. Studies on her have confirmed that Virdimura in Palermo was examined by a "directing commission". This achievement is attested by a document dated 7 November 1376, as explained by Cristina Tornali, a text preserved in the State Archives of Palermo.
The document states that the woman obtained a license to practice medical science. Suitable, therefore, for medical activity throughout the kingdom of Sicily. Virdimura therefore underwent a real state examination of which the official document is preserved which contains a note of merit for his dedication to the care of the poor and the disabled. But as Tornali points out, this confirms "who was the first woman in the world to be able to exercise”, Not only the first woman in Sicily. There would be no one else before. Virdimura was a Jewish woman married to Pasquale di Catania, a doctor by profession.
The international award dedicated to this extraordinary woman
Virdimura, therefore, had the qualification to exercise the medical profession. According to the documents concerning her, she treated women, the poor and the disabled. And it is precisely for this important social commitment that an international award named after her is born. The seventh edition took place in Catania the official award ceremony of the Virdimura International Prize, now in its seventh edition. The aim of the award is aimed at the role of women and women in civil society, schools, universities, institutions. But also to affirm the culture of solidarity and the fight against physical, mental and cultural disabilities, against all forms of discrimination, abuse and femicide. And in July of this year premiata Corinne Devin, medical officer of the general command of the US Marines.
