Melanie Beals Goan is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Kentucky. Her research and teaching focus on 20th-century U.S. history, Kentucky history, gender, and the history of healthcare.
Focusing on the Bluegrass State, the book highlights individuals who contributed significantly to advancing the nation's founding ideals. Through their stories, readers gain insight into the diverse efforts and sacrifices made by these figures, illustrating their roles in shaping history and promoting progress.
An exploration of the women's suffrage movement in Kentucky.
The Frontier Nursing Service and Rural Health in Appalachia
The book highlights Mary Breckinridge's groundbreaking establishment of the Frontier Nursing Service in 1925, which provided essential healthcare to remote families in eastern Kentucky through horseback nurses. It details her pioneering role in introducing nurse-midwifery to the U.S. and developing an effective, sustainable model for rural healthcare that has inspired similar initiatives globally. Breckinridge's innovative approach not only transformed public health in her region but also set a precedent for rural health services worldwide.