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Brian Clark, Ph.D., executive director of the Ģ����Ƶ Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, spotlights the remarkable but largely forgotten legacy of one of physiology’s earliest female pioneers in an article recently published in Experimental Physiology. Titled “,” the article is part of The Physiological Society’s prestigious Blue Plaque Series, which honors physiologists who have profoundly shaped the field.

Clark, who is also the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Harold E. Clybourne, D.O., Endowed Research Chair, was invited to write the tribute in 2023. At first unfamiliar with Buchanan, he soon became deeply engaged with her story, which blends scientific rigor, personal resilience and the systemic barriers women faced in the early 20th century.

“I approached this project not just as a scientist, but as a biographer,” said Clark. “What I uncovered was not only a body of influential research, but a life marked by determination, erasure and brilliance.”

Born in 1867 to a prominent medical family, Florence Buchanan broke new ground in muscle and cardiac physiology at a time when women were routinely denied access to academic institutions and professional societies. Her pioneering research on neural control of the heartbeat and muscle excitability helped lay the foundation for what would become modern integrative physiology.

Despite her scientific achievements—including multiple single-author papers in major journals and ten presentations at The Physiological Society meetings—Buchanan faced institutional exclusion. Women were barred from full membership in the Society until 1915, when Buchanan became one of the first six women admitted, following years of advocacy by allies like John Scott Haldane, William Bayliss and Charles Sherrington.

Clark’s article not only revisits Buchanan’s scientific legacy but also exposes the gaps in historical memory. No known photographs or portraits of Buchanan exist today, and her male contemporaries continue to be far more widely recognized.

“Her absence from history books is not due to a lack of achievement, but rather a reflection of how women’s contributions were systematically overlooked,” said Clark.

In his exploration, Clark balances scientific analysis with personal reflection, recognizing the privilege he holds in writing about a woman who faced daunting gender-based obstacles. He views Buchanan’s life as a reminder that progress in science has often demanded more than intellect, it has required courage, persistence and an unwavering sense of purpose.

“Buchanan's story challenges us to look critically at who we choose to remember—and why,” he added.