Dr Alma Dea Morani, born in NYC in 1907, is best recognised as the first woman plastic surgeon in the U.S. Her father was an artist who encouraged Morani to follow in his footsteps. Morani was first exposed to medicine while receiving first aid training as a teenage girl scout. Morani earned her M.D. from the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1931. She was the first female surgical intern and the first female surgical resident at the places she worked at. Having grown up in an artistic household, Morani became drawn to the creativity of plastic surgery. However, she encountered challenges in finding a training post that accepted females. Morani eventually studied under plastic surgeon Colonel J Barrett Brown. As she was not allowed to operate, Morani learnt by combining her love for art and passion for surgery to draw sketches of the surgeries she observed. Her determination and enthusiasm were noted by Colonel Brown who let her complete a fellowship. During her career, Morani established the first Hand Surgery Clinic in Philadelphia, became a clinical professor in surgery, volunteered to perform reconstructive surgery on wounded soldiers during WWII and opened an art gallery at the Women’s Medical College. The Alma Dea Morania MD Renaissance Woman award, named in honour of her, recognises woman physicians and scientists who have made significant contributions to their field.