First Ovarian Tumor Removal

Date: December 25, 1809 • Location: Washington, United States

American physician Ephraim McDowell performed the world's first removal of an ovarian tumor.

Ephraim McDowell was an American medical doctor and pioneer surgeon. The first person to successfully remove an ovarian tumor, he has been called "the father of ovariotomy" as well as founding father of abdominal surgery.

This milestone marked a defining occurrence in United States's and world history, leaving an indelible imprint on societal development, international relations, and cultural memory. Its enduring ramifications continue to be examined and commemorated by historians and scholars across the globe.