Fenlon, Roberta, 1911-1987

Roberta Fenlon, professor of clinical medicine at University of California, San Francisco from the 1940s to the 1980s, was the first woman president of the California Medical Association, 1970-1971, and was active in the medical profession's response to state and federal legislation expanding public health care services, 1964-1974.

Roberta F. Fenlon was born in Clinton, Iowa on June 13, 1911. A prominent local San Francisco physician, she was active in many state and national medical associations and organizations. In the 1940s Fenlon began her residency at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center (known after 1970 as UCSF School of Medicine), where she continued teaching as a professor of clinical medicine until the early 1980s, while serving on numerous faculty committees. Fenlon was the first woman elected as president of the San Francisco Medical Society (SFMS) in 1960. In 1970 she became the first woman elected president to the California Medical Association (CMA). During her time as president and after, Fenlon contributed to the CMA's response to state and federal legislation regarding the expansion of public services for health care and compensation for medical services. She died on August 31, 1987 in San Francisco.

Biographical Information

Roberta F. Fenlon was born in Clinton, Iowa on June 13, 1911. A prominent local San Francisco physician, she was active in many state and national medical associations and organizations. In the 1940s Fenlon began her residency at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center (known after 1970 as UCSF School of Medicine), where she continued teaching as a professor of clinical medicine until the early 1980s, while serving on numerous faculty committees. Fenlon was the first woman elected as president of the San Francisco Medical Society (SFMS) in 1960. In 1970 she became the first woman elected president to the California Medical Association (CMA). During her time as president and after, Fenlon contributed to the CMA's response to state and federal legislation regarding the expansion of public services for health care and compensation for medical services. She died on August 31, 1987 in San Francisco.