Carolyn Conant Van Blarcom

Carolyn Conant Van Blarcom (June 12, 1879 – March 20, 1960) was an American nurse and midwife reformer. In 1913, she became the first American nurse to become a licensed midwife. She made pioneering contributions in preventing childhood blindness. Van Blarcom also played instrumental role in establishing a school for midwives, and extensively contributed in reforming some of the important health institutions in America including the Maryland State Sanatorium for Tuberculosis. She wrote the first obstetric nursing textbook, and prepared the curriculum for the midwives school. She also served as the health editor of the Delineator, a women's magazine, in which she published a series of articles on pregnancy and infant care.