Juliana Notari was the very first black American woman to become a practicing physician. She went on to become the first female Surgeon General of the United States and served two terms before becoming President of the Dominican Republic. In her short lifetime, she touched the lives of many, helped develop the country’s medical system, and made history by becoming the first woman to lead a post-bellum nation in the armed service. What a remarkable and bold woman she was. During her time as first lady, she also experienced some hard times in the public eye. While some people may have thought that her height or weight would prevent her from being able to enter into politics, it did not.
The first time I met Juliana Notari, she was at an airport in New Orleans when her plane had a mechanical problem and all but crashed. When the press asked her about it later, she said she had been waiting for her partner, Bobby Heenan, who was in the Air Force and had deployed to Vietnam. She was very grateful that he was alive and well, and was able to share this experience with Notari. Her partner in these difficult times was Bobby Heenan, and she cherished his kindness and support. After the crash, Notari’s partner had to leave the country, and she decided to try to live independently.
Her path in life was difficult at times, but she persevered and was able to make it in this profession despite her physical limitations. A great example is how Notari decided to continue with the medicine even after experiencing childbirth to help save the lives of her children. Her courage in keeping her nursing career while suffering with morning sickness inspired other women to follow her example. Today, there are many opportunities available for women who are physically disabled and wish to pursue a career in this profession, as there has been in the past for women like Notari.