WIMS Awardees

Celebrating Outstanding Women in Medicine and Science

Join us as we celebrate Women in Medicine Month to applaud remarkable achievements and invaluable contributions made by women physicians and researchers. From pioneering scientific medical breakthroughs to transformative patient care, from an unwavering dedication to medical education to standing shoulder to shoulder with indelible power, women have excelled in shaping the future of healthcare.

Women in Medicine Month celebrates our accomplishments and highlights our instrumental role in creating the medical landscape. It is a time to recognize exceptional achievements, celebrate perseverance, and amplify our voices.

Thank you for nominating outstanding women faculty for the “2023 WIMS Torchbearer” award that encourages inclusivity, empowers female professionals, and ensures a brighter, more diverse future for healthcare. All 2023 nominees were recognized as awardees. For our 2024 Torchbearer Award, the selection process was revised and five awardees were awarded.  

We are delighted and honored to introduce this year's "Most Inspiring Women in Medicine and Science" WIMS torchbearers who are lighting the way at the College of Medicine – Tucson!

 

Say Hello to our 2024 Torchebearer Awardees

  • Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD, Professor of Medicine (Dermatology) - "Dr. Curiel is the definition of a leader, role model and inspiration. She has been a major factor in each of our decisions to train at the University of Arizona and a significant contributor to our education and ability to provide excellent care for patients with melanoma and complex skin cancers."

  • Elizabeth Connick, MD, Professor, Medicine, Professor, Immunobiology, Professor BIO5 Institute - "Dr. Elizabeth Connick has been a true leader in the field of HIV and a role model for me and many other
    scientists who have followed in her footsteps in the pursuit of the highest quality research."

  • Lisa Alschuler, ND, eMBA, Clinical Professor, Medicine - "Dr. Alschuler is a visionary leader, innovative thinker, and role model embodying the highest standards of integrity,
    perseverance, and determination."

  • Beth Meyerson, PhD, Mdiv, Professor, Familiy and Community Medicine, Research Professor, Family and Community Medicine - "Despite her ability to fund incredibly impactful work at a staggering scale, she is approachable and
    humble, never carrying herself above others and always interested in learning from others."

  • Saira Kalia, MD, Associate Professor, Psychiatry - "She is not only a leader who inspires other women in medicine, she also directly and tirelessly supports women in medicine and our
    community."

 

Say hello to our 2023 Torchbearer Awardees

  • Sommer Aldulaimi, MD, Associate Professor, Family & Community Medicine
  • Tanya Anand, MD, MPH, FACS, Assistant Professor, General Surgery
  • Hina Arif-Tiwari, MD, FSAR, Professor, Department of Medical Imaging
  • Joy Beck, MD, Assistant Professor, Medicine
  • Bethany Bruzzi, DO, Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine
  • Lourdes Castanon, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, General Surgery
  • Christina Colosimo, DO, MS, Clinical Assistant Professor, General Surgery
  • Meenakshi Dagar, MD, Assistant Professor, Medicine
  • Molly Douglas, MD, MBI, Assistant Professor, General Surgery
  • Jennifer Erdrich, MD, MPH, MFA, FACS, FSSO, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
  • Nova Foster, MD, FACS, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
  • Meghan Good, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
  • Lynn Gries, MD, Associate Professor, General Surgery
  • Jennie M. Gubner, Assistant Professor, School of Music
  • Holli Horak, Professor, Neurology
  • Julia Jernberg, MD, MBA, Clinical Associate Professor, Medicine
  • Saher Khalid, MD, Assistant Professor, Medicine
  • Amy Klein, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine
  • Anita Koshy, MD, Associate Professor, Neurology and Immunobiology
  • Carrie Luu, MD, FACS, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
  • Ann Mathias, DO, Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs, Director of Population Health, Family & Community Medicine
  • Elizabeth Kyle Meehan, MD, Assistant Professor (Clinical Series), Family & Community Medicine
  • Laura Meinke, MD, Associate Professor (Clinical Scholar Track), Medicine
  • Lusine Mesropyan, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
  • Dalia Mikhael, Associate Professor, Medicine
  • Bryn Nisbet-Berens, MD, Resident, Orthopedic Surgery
  • Karen Parker, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Medicine
  • Indu Partha, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Dept. of Medicine
  • Nicole Person-Rennell, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor (Clinical Faculty), Family & Community Medicine
  • Kathryn Reed, MD, Co-founder, Women in Academic Medicine 1999, Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Sydney Rice, MD, Professor, Pediatrics; Professor, Public Health; Pediatric Developmental Division Chief, Pediatrics
  • Mari Ricker, MD, Professor, Family & Community Medicine
  • Sujata Saha, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
  • Valerie Schaibley, PhD, Assistant Professor (Educator Scholar Track), Cellular & Molecular Medicine
  • Katalin Scherer, MD, Professor, Neurology
  • Serena Scott, Associate Professor, General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Dept. of Medicine
  • Elaine Situ-LaCasse, MD, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine
  • Michelle Son, MD, Resident, Orthopedic Surgery
  • Audrey Spencer, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
  • Claudia Stanescu, PhD, Associate Professor (Educator Scholar Track), Physiology
  • Krista Sunderman, MD, Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine
  • Monica Vandivort, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine
  • Karen Weihs, MD, Professor, Psychiatry
  • Jean Wilson, Professor, Cellular & Molecular Medicine
  • Anne Wright, PhD, Co-founder, Women in Academic Medicine 1999, Pediatrics
  • Yana Zavros, PhD, Professor, Cellular & Molecular Medicine
  • Bo Zhang, MD, Resident/Fellow, Department of Surgery