In Memoriam

Vera Joseph Peterson (1909-2008)

Vera Joseph Peterson, the former director of the Smith College Health Service, died late last month in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was 98 years old.

A native of Jamaica, she came to the United States in 1919 through Ellis Island. She graduated from the New York City public school system and won a scholarship to Barnard College. After graduation she enrolled in the medical school at Columbia University.

For a time she taught medicine at the American University of Beirut and worked in the public health programs of a number of international organizations. In 1964 Dr. Joseph returned to the United States to accept a position with the Smith College Health Service. She retired from this position in 1975.

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