Leonida Zalokar Starost

Leonida Zalokar Starost

Leonida Zalokar Starost: Slovenia's first female doctor

Early life and education

Leonida Zalokar Starost was born on November 27, 1882, in the village of Zalog near Kranj, Slovenia. Her father was a wealthy farmer, and her mother was a schoolteacher. Zalokar Starost showed an early interest in medicine and science. She attended medical school at the University of Graz in Austria, where she graduated in 1907 as Slovenia's first female doctor.

Medical career

After graduating from medical school, Zalokar Starost returned to Slovenia and opened a private practice in Ljubljana. She was a pioneer in the field of pediatrics and was one of the first doctors in Slovenia to advocate for the use of preventive medicine.

Zalokar Starost was also a strong advocate for women's rights. She was a member of the Yugoslav Women's Association and worked to improve the health and education of women and children.

Later life and legacy

Zalokar Starost retired from her medical practice in 1953. She died in Ljubljana on January 27, 1970, at the age of 87. Zalokar Starost is remembered as a pioneer in the field of medicine and a tireless advocate for women's rights. A hospital in Ljubljana is named in her honor.