Astrid Carola Björkman (9 January 1886 – 20 January 1967) was a Swedish medical doctor. She was the daughter of the pharmacist Karl Björkman and Matty Egerström, and the cousin of bridge designer Axel Björkman. Björkman was born in Oskarshamn. She graduated from tertiary school in

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

in 1904, and qualified as Licentiate of Medicine at the

Karolinska Institute The Karolinska Institute (KI; sv, Karolinska Institutet; sometimes known as the (Royal) Caroline Institute in English) is a research-led medical university in Solna within the Stockholm urban area of Sweden. The Karolinska Institute is consist ...

in 1917. She worked as a physician at Uppsala epidemic hospital in 1912, at Säters hospital in 1917, and at Uddevalla Hospital in 1918. During the

influenza epidemic Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of an outbreak of influenza (flu). The season occurs during the cold half of the year in each hemisphere. It takes approximately two days to show symptoms. Influen ...

, she worked at Borgholm's hospital from 1918-19. Subsequently, she worked at Lund hospital 1919-27, and at Helsingborg hospital 1927-30, became chief physician at Källshagens hospital in 1930 and worked as hospital manager there 1931-36 and at Restad's hospital in Vänersborg 1936-51. Astrid Björkman was Sweden's first female chief physician and hospital manager. In 1945, she was awarded a ‘size 8’

Illis Quorum ''Illis quorum'' (''Illis quorum meruere labores'') (English: "For Those Whose Labors Have Deserved It"), is a gold medal awarded for outstanding contributions to Swedish culture, science or society. The award was introduced in 1784 by King Gust ...

gold medal.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorkman, Astrid 1886 births 1967 deaths Swedish women physicians 20th-century Swedish physicians People from Oskarshamn Municipality Karolinska Institute alumni Recipients of the Illis quorum