By: Samantha Riley, Bicentennial Intern, Class of 2020, French and Anthropology, IUPUI
Edited by: Bre Anne Briskey, Bicentennial Graduate Assistant
“The dream I always had, and the reason I entered medicine was to affect the health care of as many people as possible. When I think about achievement, mine has been in gaining the freedom to develop educational ideas. Sometimes it’s been hard, but if you have a goal, there’s always a way to get there.”[1]— Nancy Arnold Roeske
Dr. Nancy Arnold Roeske was the child of two surgeons and was encouraged to pursue a similar career path in medicine during a time when such opportunities for women were limited. Attributing the opportunities she had to the women’s movement, Roeske wanted to advance women in the medical field.
Early Life and Education
Roeske was born on April 17, 1928, to Duma C. Arnold and Anna M. Arnold née Whelan.[2] Growing up in Minneapolis, MN, Roeske’s family encouraged her to go into the medical field.[3] It was the women in Roeske’s life who showed her that it was possible to be an educated, professional woman.
Roeske’s maternal family followed a tradition that each generation of women would receive an education beyond what was then considered socially acceptable as “education offers freedom.”[4] Roeske’s mother showed her that it was possible to be a woman and a medical professional.[5] Roeske’s mother earned her medical degree during the 1920s, when less than 5% of women earned medical degrees and those who did experienced numerous barriers.[6]
After graduating from high school, Roeske moved to Poughkeepsie, NY to earn her bachelor’s degree. After graduating from Vassar College in 1950, she completed her medical education and earned her M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1954.[7]
She moved to Indianapolis for her residency in psychiatry at the Norway’s Foundation Hospital in 1955.[8] Roeske temporarily placed her career on hold when she married Dr. Roger Roeske and raised two children.[9] She stayed home with them while they were young. She once said, “Working with children in my career has affected my being a mother. I think I was a good mother.” [10]
Several years later, she returned and completed her residency at Indiana University School of Medicine in 1964.[11]
Career
After finishing her residency, Roeske became the director of the Riley Child Guidance Clinic at the Indiana University Medical Center and held this role until 1973. Those who worked with her considered Roeske to be an outstanding director. She instituted innovative programs not only for the delivery of medical services, but also for medical education.[12]
Because of her upbringing, she emphasized the holistic and humanistic approach to patients, bringing both the human and the scientific sides of patient care together to ensure that patients felt supported. or. She developed a family-orientated method, which helped educate family members on how visually handicapped children develop. Roeseke also instilled in her students to practice with “humanness” that her mother and grandmother taught her.[13]
In 1973, she was appointed director of undergraduate curriculum in the department of psychiatry, and later appointed to director of education for the department of psychiatry in 1976.[14]
Contributions to the Profession
Roeske’s passion laid in her desire to help others, working especially with children with mental illnesses and with people with disabilities. She worked hard to provide expert mental health services to under-privileged children and families in Indianapolis through collaboration with the Indiana Department of Mental Health.
She introduced a family-orientated approach to the mental health problems of children, which has since been adopted by most local children’s mental health facilities. She was a consultant for the School for the Blind for 22 years, and in 1977, she organized the institute Children with Learning Disabilities.[15] Her work had a tremendous effect on the children and the families for whom she worked to help.
Roeske had a long-term interest in the role of women in medicine during her career. From 1972 to 1975, she was the chairperson of the American Psychiatric Association Task Force on Women. Her work with the task force resulted in the publication of several important works.
She performed a number of clinical trials dealing with women and women’s health.[16] Roeske received the American Association of University Women Achievement Award for her work in 1979.[17]
Her Legacy
Due to her commitment to the profession, she served as the president of the Indiana Psychiatric Association and in various leadership positions in the American Medical Association.[18] She influenced future medical doctors through her book, Examination of the Personality, and classroom instruction videotapes.[19]
The last few years of her life, Dr. Roeske battled with cancer. Despite surgery and chemotherapy, she passed away on April 21, 1986.[20] Roeske’s commitment to her community continued even after her death; she established the Roeske Scholarship Fund to Benefit Women Medical Students at Indiana University.[21] Her legacy continues to live on through those she cared for, and through the changes she enacted in the Indianapolis community.
Bibliography
- “Deaths and Funerals: Dr. Nancy Roeske, psychiatrist, teacher,” The Indianapolis News, 25 April 1986, pg. 24.
- “Dr. Nancy Roeske rites set; professor of psychiatry,” The Indianapolis Star, 26 April 1986, pg. 38.
- “Family of Doctors,” Leader-Telegram, 20 July 1965, pg. 3.
- Forbis, Jeanne. “Family Tradition Leads to Honors,” The Indianapolis News, 26 June 1979, pg. 8
- More, Ellen S. “The American Medical Women’s Association and the role of the woman physician, 1915-1990.” (1990)
- “Nancy Carolyn Roeske Death Certificate,” Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1986; Roll: 07.
- “Old Masters,” Journal and Courier, 30 October 1982, pg. 23.
- “Site 4: Riley Hospital for Children (RI),” Women Building IU: A Walking Trail. http://www.iupui.edu/~history/OLDSITE/trail/4.htm.
Notes
[1] Jeanne Forbis, “Family Tradition Leads to Honors,” The Indianapolis News, 26 June 1979, pg. 8.
[2] “Nancy Carolyn Roeske Death Certificate,” Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1986; Roll: 07.
[3] “Family of Doctors,” Leader-Telegram, 20 July 1965, pg. 3.
[4] “Family of Doctors,” Leader-Telegram, 20 July 1965, pg. 3.
[5] “Family of Doctors,” Leader-Telegram, 20 July 1965, pg. 3.
[6] Ellen S. Moore, “The American Medical Women’s Association and the role of the woman physician, 1915-1990,” University of Massachusetts Medical School Library Publications and Presentations. (1990), 165.
[7] “Dr. Nancy Roeske rites set; professor of psychiatry,” The Indianapolis Star, 26 April 1986, pg. 38.
[8] “Dr. Nancy Roeske rites set; professor of psychiatry,” The Indianapolis Star, 26 April 1986, pg. 38.
Resume.
[9] “Site 4: Riley Hospital for Children (RI),” Women Building IU: A Walking Trail. http://www.iupui.edu/~history/OLDSITE/trail/4.htm.
[10] “Family of Doctors,” Leader-Telegram, 20 July 1965, pg. 3.
[11] “Dr. Nancy Roeske rites set; professor of psychiatry,” The Indianapolis Star, 26 April 1986, pg. 38.
[12] “Site 4: Riley Hospital for Children (RI),” Women Building IU: A Walking Trail. http://www.iupui.edu/~history/OLDSITE/trail/4.htm.
[13] Jeanne Forbis, “Family Tradition Leads to Honors,” The Indianapolis News, 26 June 1979, pg. 8.
[14] “Site 4: Riley Hospital for Children (RI),” Women Building IU: A Walking Trail. http://www.iupui.edu/~history/OLDSITE/trail/4.htm.
[15] “Family of Doctors,” Leader-Telegram, 20 July 1965, pg. 3.
[16] “Site 4: Riley Hospital for Children (RI),” Women Building IU: A Walking Trail. http://www.iupui.edu/~history/OLDSITE/trail/4.htm.
[17] “Site 4: Riley Hospital for Children (RI),” Women Building IU: A Walking Trail. http://www.iupui.edu/~history/OLDSITE/trail/4.htm.
[18] “Old Masters,” Journal and Courier, 30 October 1982, pg. 23.
[19] “Deaths and Funerals: Dr. Nancy Roeske, psychiatrist, teacher,” The Indianapolis News, 25 April 1986, pg. 24.
[20] “Nancy Carolyn Roeske Death Certificate,” Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1986; Roll: 07.
[21] “Deaths and Funerals: Dr. Nancy Roeske, psychiatrist, teacher,” The Indianapolis News, 25 April 1986, pg. 24.