Calling Dr. Susan

Susan La Flesche was born in 1865 on the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska. The daughter of Chief Joseph La Flesche, she learned the value of education at an early age. Her father encouraged her to further her education and learn about the world around her. Her mother was Mary Gale, the daughter of an army doctor who lived in Nebraska. Learning and medicine seemed destined to be part of Susan’s life.

Susan’s path became clear at an early age. When she was a girl, she noticed that some American Indians did not receive proper medical care. In one particular instance, a woman died because she did not receive the medical care she required. The incident motivated Susan to dedicate her life to helping others.

When Susan was 14, she moved to New Jersey to attend school. When she was 17, she returned home and became a teacher at a school on the reservation. However, another staff member at the school encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Susan enrolled in college and eventually became the first female American Indian doctor. She earned her degree in two years, graduating at the top of her class.

After college, Susan returned to Nebraska and provided medical care for the people on the reservation. She got to know the needs of the Omaha people and decided she needed to help them even more. When medical supplies ran out, Susan would often purchase them with her own money. She soon learned that the reservations needed more assistance and attention from the government, and she worked to improve the conditions of American Indians. She helped members of the Omaha tribe gain more rights and benefits. She also helped make the United States government more aware of American Indian rights across the country. Susan died in 1915, but her legacy remains an inspiration for many.


Directions: Read the question. Choose the best answer.

What was a problem that Susan La Flesche noticed on the Omaha Reservation?
A. She was not going to be able to become a doctor.
B. Women on the reservation were not allowed to be doctors.
C. Most people had to leave the reservation for medical care.
D. There was a lack of proper medical care on the reservation.