Dr. Jerusha Jhirad: Indian doctor after whom two craters on Venus have been named

Dr. Jerusha Jhirad was the first Indian woman to receive a Government scholarship to study abroad. She completed her LMS from Grant Medical College, Bombay in 1912 & then with the help of the scholarship of 200 pounds per annum for 5 years she joined intern at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, London, where she worked for 2 years. Her work, here, was appreciated, and her supervisor, Miss Chadburn, permitted her to perform abdominal operations. She secured her MD in obstetrics and gynaecology in 1919, being the 1st Indian woman to do so, and is mentioned among the notable graduates of  London School of Medicine for Women (LSMW). On return to India she didn’t get to work at Cama Hospital, Mumbai (her childhood dream) & she started working at Lady Hardinge College, Delhi. After that she moved to Bangalore & joined Cama Hospital in 1925 as Honorary Surgeon. In 1928 she became a Medical Officer at the hospital, a post held by British women till then. Jhirad was founder member of the Federation of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of India and chairperson of the Maternity and Child Welfare Advisory Committee of the Indian Council of Medical Research from 1935 to 1952. She was chosen a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1935 and was elected fellow in 1947. She was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1945 and was bestowed the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1966. In 1994 the International Astronomical Union named two Venusian craters, Jerusha & Jhirad respectively.