Dr. Martha Wilson MacDonald

Dr. Martha Wilson MacDonald

Dr. Martha MacDonald, Pittsburgh (PA) - Omicron, a child psychiatrist for 50 years, was a pioneer in the field and a leader in her profession. After receiving her Bachelor of Science and master’s degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, she interned there and in San Francisco. She began her career as a pediatrician and served as a school psychiatrist. Her experiences working with teachers and pupils developed her interest in child development and psychiatry, a new field at the time. During the 1930s and 1940s, she held various positions in research and education. Dr. MacDonald was director of the Guidance Center in New Orleans, psychiatric service advisor to the United States Children’s Bureau and child psychiatrist of the Territorial Health Department of Hawaii. She lectured extensively. After World War II, there was a need for qualified psychiatrists to work with returning veterans and she became director of professional education at Veterans Administration hospitals. From 1946 to 1953, Dr. MacDonald was associate professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. MacDonald shared Delta Zeta’s birthday and was pleased to be Woman of the Year in 1980.