Honoring Health Sciences Experts for Women in Medicine Month

Marilyn Glassberg Csete, MD, was raised in a medical household, her mother following her passion for nursing and her father caring for patients as a cardiologist. One of her personal goals is to set an example that paves the way for the next generation of physicians who can take advantage of opportunities to become successful physician-scientists.

Timian Godfrey (Dine’), DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, says her mother raised her to have a strong conviction in the Navajo wellness philosophy Hózhó. This belief centers her purpose to create beauty, harmony and wellness in all that she does. Her goal is to work with other disciplines and professions to create equitable health systems for underserved communities.

Judith Gordon, PhD, says that during her training in clinical psychology she worked with leaders in tobacco cessation. This inspired her work, which focuses on developing and disseminating innovative, evidence-based interventions to help people quit smoking through health care systems and technology.

Elizabeth Hall-Lipsy, JD, MPH, wanted a career where she could help people and be of service to her community. While working with communities as part of her Masters for Public Health (MPH) program, she learned that building bridges between health care and policy can dramatically improve health for all people.

Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, PhD, says that operating and sustaining a biomedical research program is like running a small business. One of her professional goals is to translate their research findings to make a positive impact on women’s health, particularly for underrepresented, underserved and understudied populations of women in Arizona.

Kathleen Insel, PhD, RN, says as a first-generation college student with a love for science and math, she knew the nursing field would present many opportunities for growth. She has been a hospital-based acute care staff and charge nurse, critical care staff development educator, university faculty member, researcher and leader.

Patricia Lebensohn, MD, went into health sciences because she wanted to serve underserved populations and help communities be healthierHer professional goals are to decrease health disparities by caring for underserved populations, teaching residents and students and remaining committed to improving the health of communities.

Jeannie K. Lee, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, FASHP, started as an art major but wanted to move toward a helping profession. A love of people and science led her to health sciences and pharmacy. Her goal is to inspire and equip students to be innovative and resilient pharmacists and scientists.

Victoria Murrain, DO, recalls a singular moment when she decided she wanted to be a physician: watching a movie of the birthing process in the eighth grade. Becoming a family physician allowed her to fulfill her dream of caring for families and yet have a family life of her own. She has been extremely fortunate to have wonderful mentoring role models and tries to reflect those experiences in her own mentoring relationships.

Indu Partha, MD FACP, says she always wanted a career that makes a positive difference in people's lives, one that intellectually stimulates and challenges her on a daily basis. She finds joy in not only sharing her knowledge but also in watching them realize their unlimited potential. Her goal is to train more passionate, compassionate and proud primary care general internists.

Jessica Rainbow, PhD, RN, said she was initially inspired to become a nurse in high school after caring for her father during his cancer treatment and recovery. However, she wanted to become a nurse scientist after seeing how systemic issues in the intensive care unit negatively impact nurses and their care.

Sydney Rice, MD, MSc, said that growing up on a ranch in rural Arizona, she learned medical skills early in life by caring for sick animals. She worked with a pediatrician in high school and his passion for helping others resonated with her. She wants to support the next generations of doctors who care for children and families with complex health conditions.

Monica Vandivort, MD, said that as a geriatrician you have the opportunity to meet the most interesting people with amazing life accomplishments and personalities. She feels honored to experience their wisdom and grit, and she continually appreciates our older generation’s value to their families, our communities and our nation’s work ethic and character.

Shu-Fen Wung, PhD, MS, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN, is a nurse scientist conducting research on the effective and safe use of health technologies and big data to provide precision monitoring strategies for individuals with cardiovascular and acute illnesses. She is passionate about teaching the next generation of nurse scientists and advanced practice nurses so they can change the world of health care.

Alejandra Zapien-Hidalgo, MD, MPH, says her inspiration to go into health sciences comes from conversations with her grandmother starting at eight years old. She says people might not realize the history of discrimination against women in the medical field. Although gender gaps have improved, she wants people to know there is still work to be done.

Celina Zerbinatti, PhD, says her career path to discovering medicines to treat neurodegenerative diseases began after a pharmaceutical company approached her to work in their Alzheimer's research department. Her goal is to advance as many drug discovery efforts as possible, including supporting UArizona Health Sciences faculty members in translating their research findings into new medicines.