On Friday, Denver’s political and community leaders cut the ribbon on a new mural from artist Max Sansing that depicts Justina L. Ford, the first African-American woman to be a doctor in Denver.

Ford, who lived from 1871 to 1952, delivered over 7,000 babies during her career. 9News reported that several dozen of the people whom Ford delivered attended the dedication in Five Points.

Connect for Health Colorado, which runs the state’s health insurance marketplace, sponsored the mural on the side of the U.S. Bank building at 27th and Welton streets, close to Ford’s old home and office at 2335 Arapahoe Street. Denverite notes that the house is now at 3091 California Street and is known as the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center.

“I’m in awe of her perseverance to bring health care to her community and pleased that we can be a part of telling her story,” said Connect for Health Colorado CEO Kevin Patterson. He joined Mayor Michael Hancock, Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca and others in dedicating the mural.

When Ford moved from Chicago to Denver, she was barred from membership in the Colorado Medical Association and from working in a hospital. “You’ve got two strikes against you to begin with,” a medical license examiner had told her. “First of all, you’re a lady, and second, you’re colored.” It was not until 1950, two years before her death, that the Colorado and American Medical Associations admitted her as a member.