Mary Breckinridge and the FNS | Kentucky Studies

In 1925, nurse-midwives from across the globe began travelling to Leslie County, Kentucky, to demonstrate the possibilities of rural healthcare in America. Led by Mary Breckinridge, daughter of a prominent Kentucky family, these spirited women delivered unprecedented care to the families living in remote regions of Appalachia. Their efforts reduced the maternal and infant mortality rates to be among the lowest in the nation and improved the overall welfare of these mountain communities for generations to come.