She had wanted to be a surgeon but due to one blind eye she went
to work in a hospital in London. She moved back to New York City in 1851 and
applied to jobs as a physician. However, she was rejected because she was a
woman. Elizabeth then opened her own practice. After her sister Emily graduated
from medical school she joined Elizabeth at the practice. After a few years the
practice turned into the New York Infirmary and College for Women. Elizabeth
also continuously fought for the acceptance of women into colleges. Elizabeth
adopted Katherine "Kitty" Barry in 1856; Kitty was an Irish orphan. During
the Civil War in 1860 she organized a field of female field doctors. She moved
back to London and in 1869 set up a practice and continued to fight for women
acceptance. She worked as professor of gynecology at the London School of
Medicine for Women from 1875 until 1907. She then moved to Hastings and passed
away in her home on May 31, 1910.