Clelia Lollini (May 1, 1890 – November 24, 1963) was an Italian medical doctor. She helped to found the Medical Women's International Federation and the Italian Women's Medical Association.

Early life

Clelia Lollini was born in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

, the daughter of Vittorio Lollini and

Elisa Agnini Elisa Agnini Lollini (22 March 1858 – 22 June 1922) was a pioneering Italian feminist, pacifist, suffragist and politician. In 1896, she was a co-founder of the '' Associazione per la Donna'' (Women's Association) which not only supported women' ...

. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a journalist and feminist. All four of the Lollini daughters (Olga,

Clara Clara may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Clara'' (2018 film), a Canadian sci-fi drama * ''Clara'' (2019 film), a Ukrainian animated fantasy film * ''Clara'' (TV series), a German TV series * Clara the Cow, mascot of the Greek TV show '' P ...

, Livia, and Clelia) pursued higher education and professional careers. Clelia Lollini finished her medical degree in 1915.Silvia Mori
"Clelia Lollini"
''Enciclopedia delle Donne''.

Career

During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

she enlisted and worked as a surgeon at a military hospital in

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

. In 1919 she attended the

YWCA The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swit ...

's International Conference of Women Physicians in New York, where she gave a lecture on "Prostitution and Prophylaxis of Venereal Disease in Italy", and described her efforts to add social hygiene to Italian public school curricula. She also opened a prenatal clinic for unmarried women in Rome. She became one of the founders of the Medical Women's International Federation. She and Myra Carcupino-Ferrari founded the Italian Women's Medical Association (AIDM) soon after. Her own experience of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

, including a two-year stay in a sanatorium, led to her focus on the care of tubercular patients. From 1930 to 1938 she was in charge of the Anti-Tubercular Consortium of

Massa Massa may refer to: Places Italy *Province of Massa and Carrara, province in the Tuscany region of Italy * Duchy of Massa and Carrara, controlled the towns of Massa di Carrara and Carrara * Roman Catholic Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombi ...

. She moved to

Tripoli Tripoli or Tripolis (from , meaning "three cities") may refer to: Places Greece *Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in the Pelasgiotis district, Thessaly, near Larissa ...

in 1938 and continued her work on tuberculosis there.

Personal life and legacy

Clelia Lollini spoke Italian, French, German, English, and Arabic. She died in 1963, aged 73 years, in Tripoli, after an eye surgery. Silvia Mori wrote a novel, ''Polveri di Luna'' (2014), based on Lollini's time at the anti-tubercular consortium in Massa."Le "Polveri di Luna" di Silvia Mori per il ritorno di 'Scrittorincarrara'"
''La Gazzetta di Massa e Carrara'' (January 15, 2015).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lollini, Clelia 1890 births 1963 deaths 20th-century Italian physicians 20th-century Italian women physicians Physicians from Rome