About the Foundation
The Mary Edwards Walker Foundation is named for Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919), the only woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor and the first woman to serve as a surgeon in the U.S. Army. After serving heroically in the Civil War, during which she crossed battle lines to help the wounded and was captured by Confederate troops and held as a prisoner of war, Dr. Walker devoted her life to supporting women’s rights and gender equality.
You can read more about Dr. Mary Edwards Walker’s life, the challenges she faced as a woman, and the impact she had in and out of uniform here.
American abolitionist, surgeon, Civil War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Mary Edwards Walker, circa 1860. Photo by Elliot & Fry/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
With Dr. Walker’s inspiring story in mind, The Mary Edwards Walker Foundation works to support the next generation of women serving as officers in the U.S. military by offering women who are undergraduate students pursuing a career in the military with mentorship, career advice, and professional growth opportunities.
To get involved with this work, please contact us by email at maryedwardswalkerfoundation at gmail.com.