Helen Rodríguez Trías |
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Helen Rodríguez Trías was a Puerto Rican pediatrician and women's rights activist.[1][2] She was the first Latina president of the American Public Health Association.[1] In 2001 she was awarded the Presidential Citizen’s Medal.[1]
She was born in Puerto Rico.[1] She moved to New York at age ten.[1] At school she was treated poorly because of her race.[1] Helen liked science and people.[1] [2]
She studied medicine in Puerto Rico.[1][2] Helen became a mother. She graduated when she was thirty one years old. Helen opened a place to take newborn babies if they are ill. This led to the newborn death rate in Puerto Rico decreasing by fifty percent.[1] [2]
She moved back to New York. Helen worked for organizations and movements. She specialized in pediatrics. She saw a mother pass away from an abortion. Helen began fighting for abortion and sterilization rights.[2][1]
Helen Rodríguez Trías has saved many people, from newborns to women.[2][2] She will be remembered because of all of her hard work.
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