Getting To Know Marie Thomas, Indonesia's First Female Doctor From Minahasa

JAKARTA - The Google search page displays a doodle illustration of Maria Josephine Catherine Maramis alias Marie Thomas, the first female doctor in Indonesia. Google provides a special warning for this national hero from Minahasa, North Sulawesi.

Born on this day in 1896 in Likupang village, Indonesia, Marie Thomas made history as the first women specialist in gynecology and obstetrics. This is also shown by Google, through the illustration of Marie Thomas, dressed as a doctor, complete with a stethoscope, who appears to be holding a small baby.

Citing the Google Doodle page, his parents were civil servants in colonial times. During her life, Marie Thomas moved frequently in Indonesia during childhood before graduating from a European school in Manado.

According to the notes of the General Encyclopedia (1973: 1324) compiled by AG Pringgodigdo et al. Marie graduated from the Meisjesschool (girls school) in Yogyakarta in 1912.

After that, Marie continued her education at the School tot Opleiding van Indische Artsen (STOVIA) aka Hindia Doctor's School or better known as the Javanese Medical School in Batavia.

Ten years later, Marie Thomas earned her doctorate, an achievement with international impact. Even a Dutch newspaper also announced his graduation.

Quoted from Anna Pawlona Matuli-Walanda in the book Ibu Walanda-Maramis: Minahasa Women's Fighters (1983: 37). The success of Marie Thomas in graduating as a doctor was followed by other Minahasa people, namely Anna Karamoy Warouw from Amurang and Dee Weydemuller from Manado.

Doctor Marie once served at the Centrale Burgelijke Ziekenhuis (CBZ) or what is now known as the Tjipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Apart from Batavia, he has also been assigned to Cirebon, Manado and Bukittinggi.

During his tenure, he often handled health and childbirth matters. This is because many Indonesians at that time preferred a shaman to a doctor or a midwife.

Marie is also known as the first doctor to introduce contraceptive methods, such as UID, to women and mothers across the archipelago. His figure is known for his generosity and often treats poor patients for free.

His dedication as a midwifery expert helped educate midwives in Sumatra. Her work made Marie Thomas a respected public figure.

The name Marie Thomas also appears in the novel Nh. Dini entitled Amir Hamzah, Pangeran dari Seberang (1981: 156). Nh. Dini, like other writers, called her Indonesia's first female doctor.

Happy birthday, Dr. Marie Thomas. Thank you for your unconditional dedication to the lives of others that have paved the way for women in Indonesia to teach medicine and higher education.