Margaret D. Craighill was born 16 October 1898 in Southport, North Carolina. She attended the University of Wisconsin and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, graduating in 1924. In 1940, Craighill became the Dean of the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMC) in Philadelphia. In 1943, Craighill requested a leave of absence from the college to enter the military. On 28 May 1943, Craighill became the first female commissioned officer in the United States Army Medical Corps. Major Craighill was assigned as the Women's Consultant to the Surgeon General of the Army of the United States commanding the Women's Health and Welfare Unit and with liaison duty with the Women's Army Corps (WAC). During her military service, she was responsible for the inspection of field conditions of all women in the United States Army, as well as establishing the standards for screening applicants into the WAC and for WAC medical care. On 8 April 1946, Craighill separated from the United States Army and returned briefly to the WMC in Philadelphia. In September 1946, she accepted a surgical position with the Veterans Administration (VA) at Winter Veterans Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. During her tenure, Craighill also served as Chief Consultant, Medical Care of Women Veterans. In 1946, Craighill went back to school under the G.I. Bill to study psychiatry at the Menninger Foundation School of Psychiatry in Topeka. Craighill resigned from the Veterans Administration and returned to private practice in Connecticut. on 20 July 1977, Craighill died in Southbury, Connecticut.
From the description of Margaret D. Craighill collection, 1936-1951 (bulk 1943-1946). (US Army, Mil Hist Institute). WorldCat record id: 61442897
