She Chose The Harder Job

The decision to return to Nebraska is one of the most important moments in Susan’s story because it reveals what the degree was for.

She did not want to become famous for escaping the reservation.

She wanted to practice medicine there.

In 1889, she accepted a position as government physician for the Omaha Agency.

The numbers were intimidating.

Depending on the source and how boundaries are calculated, her medical territory covered hundreds of square miles and served roughly 1,200 to 1,300 people.

The National Park Service describes her as the sole physician for more than 1,200 people across more than 400 miles.

Other historical accounts describe a service area exceeding 1,000 square miles.

The exact measurement matters less than the lived reality.