Sharry Veres honored as an outstanding woman in business

Sharry Veres, MD, chair of the Department of Family, Community and Preventive Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, was honored by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of its Outstanding Women in Business 2024.

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The award recognizes powerful, determined businesswomen who make their communities better places to live. From a pool of more than 250 nominees from varied professional backgrounds, Veres was one of 26 chosen for the award.

“I have chronic imposter syndrome, like many of my fellow women in academics, medicine and science,” Veres said. “What cuts through it, though, is the understanding that an award is an opportunity to draw positive attention to the work I care about. I feel truly thankful for the nomination and the opportunities I have been given in my work here.”

Veres said her role as department chair puts her in a great position to focus on the future of primary care and on creating better health in the community.

“As a primary care specialist, that means health services research targeting access to care, the workforce, innovation and health outcomes,” she said.

“There are so many opportunities in this role: teaching and mentoring, positively impacting our communities and developing strategies to improve health and health care. I love the team of faculty and staff both inside and outside my department, and I feel lucky to have these like-minded individuals in my life.

“What also motivates me is that we are a learning community,” Veres continued. “While medicine is advancing, we are on a mission to find ways to get these innovations to our patients and communities, ensuring maximal reach and impact on health outcomes. Lastly, I get to take care of patients in this role, which is important to me. I love seeing patients in the clinic, the hospital, labor and delivery, and up in Payson.”

“Dr. Veres’ career has been built upon giving back to her profession and to the community,” said Fred Wondisford, MD, dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix. “As a physician, mentor and leader, she has made it a priority to better the health of her patients and to optimize the training of residents, fellows and faculty.”

Veres was nominated for the award by Beth Smith, senior director of marketing and communications at the College of Medicine – Phoenix. In her nomination letter, Smith noted Veres’ commitment to addressing the physician shortage in Arizona and to optimizing the way clinical practice is delivered.

“Her focus aims to ensure that patients’ access to care and trust in their providers are improved,” Smith wrote. “Ultimately, centering on the patient rather than the illness, and through the fostering of cohesive family medicine teams, she hopes to improve health and alleviate health disparities in communities across Arizona.”