Barbie Releases Doll Honoring First Native American Doctor

Mattel has introduced a Barbie honoring Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, an Omaha Nation physician and advocate who became the first Native American woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. Picotte graduated from medical school in 1889, cared for more than 1,000 patients, promoted public health and Native rights, and helped establish a hospital in Walthill, Nebraska, in 1913. The doll, part of Barbie’s Inspiring Women series, features an Omaha-inspired shawl, a period-style dress and a medical bag. Picotte’s descendants and the center housed in her restored hospital say the tribute can help share her legacy and inspire Native children and future generations.