Aithne Rowse

{{short description|First South African women to over-winter in Antarctica}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

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| name = Aithne Rowse

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| nationality = South African

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| education = University of the Witwatersrand

| occupation = Physician

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| field = Anesthesiology

| work_institutions = Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

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Aithne Rowse (born 1968?) is an anaesthetist who was the first South African woman to over-winter in Antarctica.

Biography

Rowse grew up in Johannesburg and studied for a degree at Wits University Medical School.{{Cite news|url=http://alp.lib.sun.ac.za/bitstream/handle/123456789/6007/1997_february_10_cape_argus_docs_heed_over_heels_in_love_with_snow.pdf?sequence=1|title=The Doc's Head Over Heels in Love - With Snow|last=Yeld|first=John|date=10 February 1997|work=Cape Argus}} She worked at Johannesburg Hospital and as an anaesthetist at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Diepkloof.{{Cite web|url=https://www.medicalnetwork.co.za/Profile/21356/Dr-Rowse-Aithne-Helen|title=Dr Rowse, Aithne Helen - Anaesthetist {{!}} Medical Network|website=www.medicalnetwork.co.za|access-date=2020-02-01}} She has recommended better practice in tourniquet technique.{{Cite journal|last=Rowse|first=Aithne|date=November 2002|title=Editorial|url=http://www.sajaa.co.za/index.php/sajaa/article/view/111/119|journal=Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia & Analgesia}}

= Antarctica =

In 1979, American Michele Eileen Raney was the first woman doctor to be in Antarctica all year when she spent the winter at the South Pole.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gct.com/community/the-inside-scoop/travel-trivia/ice-queens|title=Women Explorers of Antarctica {{!}} Ice Queens {{!}} Grand Travel|website=www.gct.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-03}}File:SANAE_IV_from_above_the_northern_buttress.jpg

Rowse was the first South African woman to over-winter in Antarctica in 1997 when she was aged 29.{{Cite web|url=https://www.experienceantarctica.com/experiences/women-in-antarctica-until-the-90s|title=Women in Antarctica until the '90s|website=Experience Antarctica|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-01|archive-date=2020-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201111524/https://www.experienceantarctica.com/experiences/women-in-antarctica-until-the-90s|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.news24.com/rapport/Weekliks/Nuus/Antarktika-is-ook-n-plek-vir-sussies-20120113|title=Antarktika is ook 'n plek vir sussies|website=m.news24.com|access-date=2020-02-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.sun.ac.za/antarcticlegacy/about-2/sanae-iv/|title=Antarctica Base (SANAE IV)|last=kennedy|date=2015-10-19|website=Antarctic Legacy of South Africa|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-08}} She was also the first woman to be selected to join any SANAE team. She was part of a team of ten who were the first group to spend the winter on the South African base SANAE IV.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/sanae-iv/background/other-features/f3c93c86-d45a-4b8b-bca2-4fdb35755afb/a/nar/f3c93c86-d45a-4b8b-bca2-4fdb35755afb/1333109|title=Station Facilities in Sanae IV|last=Planet|first=Lonely|website=Lonely Planet|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}} Rowse was doctor for the team and her preparation for the job meant that she undertook a range of courses to make her familiar with every aspect of emergency medicine. Prior to arrival, Rowse had not met any of the members of the team for that year.{{Cite web|url=http://alp.lib.sun.ac.za/bitstream/handle/123456789/2179/frank_david_transcript.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y|title=David Frank Transcript|date=12 March 2010}} Afterwards, Rowse married fellow team member Hein de Beer.{{Cite AV media|url=https://alp.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/123456789/3157|title=36th SANAE Overwintering Team, 1997|date=1996|last=SANAE Teams|type=Photo|language=English|publisher=Antarctic Legacy of South Africa}}

References