Dimock College

The Dimock Advisory College is named in honor of Dr. Susan Dimock, a pioneering physician born in 1847 in Washington, North Carolina. As a child, she developed an early passion for medicine by borrowing books from the local physician, Dr. Solomon Sampson Satchwell, and accompanying him on his rounds. After the death of her father in the Civil War, Dr. Dimock and her mother moved to Massachusetts, where she enrolled at the New England Hospital for Women & Children. Although the institution provided medical training to women, it did not confer degrees, leading Dr. Dimock to pursue further education abroad. In 1868, she was admitted to the University of Zurich, becoming one of seven women who played a critical role in transforming women’s medical education between 1864 and 1874, paving the way for coeducation. In 1871, she earned her medical degree with honors, writing a dissertation that showcased her academic excellence. Dr. Dimock quickly gained recognition for her surgical skills and founded the first graded school of nursing in the United States. She also made history as the first woman admitted to the North Carolina Medical Society. Tragically, her life was cut short on May 8, 1875, at the age of 28, when the steamship SS Schiller ran aground in heavy fog off the coast of England's Scilly Isles. Dr. Dimock's legacy reflects the pioneering spirit and dedication to patient care and education that continue to inspire future healthcare providers.