Elizabeth Gunther Stewart

Elizabeth Gunther Stewart, MD, a pioneer in women’s health who approached her life with humor and curiosity, died Wednesday at the age of 83 from complications of metastatic breast cancer. In addition to delivering thousands of babies over decades of obstetric practice, Dr. Stewart was co-founder and Director Emerita of the Vulvovaginal Service at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates/Atrius Health in Boston and wrote a popular book on vulvovaginal health. She was Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harvard Medical School and a staff member of the Beth Israel and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

As a child in Easton, MD, Elizabeth expressed an interest in medicine, so after graduating from St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, VA and then Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Nursing in 1963, she earned a bachelor's degree in nursing (magna cum laude) from Boston University in 1966.

That same year, she married Donald More Stewart. They enjoyed 59 years together until his death in 2025, sharing a sense of fun and a love of travel. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, while working as a registered nurse and in nursing education, Elizabeth had three children, Catherine (Kate), Douglas, and Bruce. Her time spent advocating for Kate, who has special needs, deepened her curiosity about medicine. At the age of 35, with three young and very active children, she enrolled in medical school at The George Washington University, where she graduated with distinction in 1981.

With her husband Donald’s continued, steadfast support, she completed her internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Beth Israel Hospital (Boston) in 1985. She worked as an obstetrician and gynecologist in the Boston area until her retirement in 2017. Although she started her medical career later than many of her fellow physicians, she plunged into it with characteristic energy.

As a clinician, Elizabeth provided care to her patients that they described as life-saving, often having seen many doctors without relief. Their experiences motivated her to write The V Book, A Doctor’s Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health, which she wrote for women but is also used as a reference by practicing clinicians worldwide. She sought to make this information more accessible by co-authoring the free, evidence-based, educational website www.vulvovaginaldisorders.org, A Pathway to Diagnosis and Treatment.

Elizabeth taught and mentored countless clinicians and worked to empower women throughout her career. She was a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease and of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She was on the Board of Directors for the National Vulvodynia Association. She frequently lectured on vulvovaginal disease, often using pictures of doorways she had collected from her travels around the world to illustrate the importance of the vulva and vagina.

She was the co-investigator for the first epidemiological study of vulvovaginal pain, funded by the National Institutes of Health. At the time of her death, Elizabeth was continuing to work on a series of online modules consolidating the basic information needed by any gynecologist, dermatologist, internist, pelvic floor physical therapist or advanced practice clinician to care for women living with vulvovaginal problems.

While career was important to Elizabeth, she most cherished spending time with Donald and her family. She was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren and prioritized spending time with them. She was an active member of St. Anne’s-in-the Fields Episcopal Church in Lincoln. After living in Weston for nearly 40 years, she and Donald moved to Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford six years ago.

Elizabeth had a rich and full life for which she was immensely grateful. She loved to cook and took great pride in making homemade dishes for her family not only on weeknights but also as part of elaborate holiday feasts for extended family, reflecting her early inspiration by Julia Child and French cooking. She appreciated a wide variety of cuisine traditions and loved trying new foods with Donald on their travels around the world. Elizabeth had a zest for life, even when it proved challenging, and saw it as a party she didn’t want to leave.

She is survived by her brother, John Terrill Gunther of Davenport, FL, her three children, and five grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sister Deborah Gunther Whitehouse of Palm Harbor, FL. 

Her celebration of life will be Saturday October 3, 2026 at 11 AM at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields 147 Concord Rd Lincoln, MA 01773.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:
The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease
P.O. Box 15112
Syracuse, NY  13215
https://www.issvd.org
 or
St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields
147 Concord Road
Lincoln, MA 01773
https://www.stanneslincoln.org