The life of one of Oregon's earliest women doctors will be featured on Sunday, March 7, from 2-4 p.m. at the Tigard Public Library. "Strong Medicine: Bethenia Owens-Adair, Pioneer Physician" explores the life of a woman who overcame her early illiteracy to achieve her dream of practicing medicine as a fully trained and licensed doctor.

The American Association of University Women and Cathy Alzner, a history instructor at Portland Community College, will present the program in observance of International Women's Day. The program will be held in the Community Room.

Growing up in frontier Oregon in the 1840s, Owens-Adair triumphed over personal hardship and social barriers. As a single mother, she surmounted the stigma of divorce and raised her son before earning a medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1880. She returned to Oregon to practice medicine and worked passionately for women's rights and suffrage.

For more information, please call the Library at 503-684-6537 or visit the Library's Web page at http://www.tigard-or.gov/library and click on Adult Programs.