Mary Edwards Walker was an American surgeon, women's rights advocate, and the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor. Born in 1832, she graduated from the Syracuse Medical College in 1855 and became a pioneering female physician. During the American Civil War, she served as a contract surgeon for the Union Army, often working on the front lines. In addition to her medical career, Walker was a strong proponent of women's rights, advocating for dress reform and suffrage. She was known for wearing pants instead of traditional women's clothing, challenging societal norms of her time. Walker's contributions to medicine and social reform have left a lasting legacy.