Dated from the beginning of instruction, the NEFMC is widely recognized today as the first institution in the United States to offer medical education exclusively to women.

[7] Additionally, the Female Medical Education Society established a goal to build a hospital in conjunction with the college by raising one hundred thousand dollars.

In 1863, a petition made by Trustees of the NEFMC to the City Council asked that land be provided to them near the hospital in order to establish a building that could facilitate student practices; and it was granted for a significantly low price.

[9] In 1870 the New England Female Medical College building was dedicated on a lot between East Concord and Stoughton Streets, giving the school its own home after 22 years of existence.

[5] Founder Samuel Gregory saw what he called "man-midwifery" as unnatural and improper and believed that women should be given formal medical education in order to become certified midwives and attend to their own sex.

At the time, there was increasing support for the idea that, by dividing medical labors between the sexes (particularly giving women the role in childbirth), different departments could be more efficient and effective.

Furthermore, that it was beneath male physicians, and that men should be happy to hand it off to women and dedicate their time to other medical fields where they would be able to employ their full mental capacity.

The institution's goals were the education of interested women in medical subjects, nursing practices, midwifery, and the training of female physicians.

[5] The majority of the school’s budget was provided by charitable contributions allowing for many students to be given the opportunity to study there through the Massachusetts State Scholarship Fund.

[1] Zakrzewska left the college because she disagreed with Gregory’s beliefs and insulted faculty members for being too focused on curing diseases and instead teaching students the scientific foundations of medicine.