March is Women’s History Month, the perfect time to honor and reflect on the remarkable ways women have driven innovation, supported growth, and empowered others through their visibility and leadership.
The University of Colorado Anschutz, Department of Family Medicine (CUA DFM) is no stranger to inspirational women. From one of the first women in the department, to the first female endowed chair, to a predominately women-led working staff, the CUA DFM celebrates the growth and richness that has evolved with the presence of powerful women, who have made waves through their work in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
What better way to celebrate these women than by reading about, in their own words, what inspired their journey into this field, how the work environment has evolved, and their advice for future women entering STEM and family medicine. Please enjoy these incredible women’s stories and perspectives - just a handful of the numerous impactful women in STEM.
Please enjoy these incredible women’s stories and perspectives - just a handful of the numerous impactful women in STEM in our department: Nida Awadallah, MD, FAAFP, MACM; Jerica M. Berge, PhD, MPH, LMFT, CFLE; Bhar Chekuri, MD; Colleen Conry, MD; Brooke Dorsey Holliman PhD, MA; Vivian Jiang, MD; Melissa N. Johnson, MD; Shandra M. Brown Levey, PhD, LP; Myra Muramoto, MD, MPH, FAAFP; Jessica Parascando, MPH; Deborah Parra-Medina, PhD, MPH/MSPH; Regina D. Richards, PhD, MSW; Rachel S. Rodriguez, MD, FAAFP; Abigail Rolbiecki-Adams, PhD, MPH, MSW; Elizabeth Westfeldt, BSN, RN.
In Their Words
Nida Awadallah, MD, FAAFP, MACM, is an Associate Professor for the Department of Family Medicine, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director for Student and Resident Remediation and Physician Consultant for CU College of Nursing.
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What got you into this field?
“Family medicine wasn’t my first choice at first-I explored pediatrics, surgery, dermatology, and even pathology. But nothing quite felt like the right fit until my family medicine rotation. That was the moment I realized, this is where I belong. I loved the variety, the continuity of care, the people, and the ability to make a meaningful impact on my community. Family medicine also offers flexibility to serve both locally and, perhaps one day, globally.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“I love listening to my patients’ stories. Building relationships with them and their families over time is incredibly rewarding. Being able to care for multiple generations and truly understand the context of their lives makes family medicine special.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“One of the biggest changes I’ve seen is the growth of advanced practice providers (APPs). In one of my roles, I work closely with APPs to provide team-based care, which has been a great way to improve patient access and outcomes. We are seeing more women in medicine than ever before! The demographics of the profession continue to shift, and with more women entering the field, we have greater opportunities to shape the future of healthcare in meaningful ways.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Family medicine allows you to make a real difference in people’s lives while also maintaining balance and pursuing your own passions outside of medicine. It’s a field that offers both flexibility and fulfillment, and there is space for you to shape your career in a way that aligns with your goals.”
Jerica M. Berge, PhD, MPH, LMFT, CFLE, is the Director for the Adult & Child Center for Outcomes Research & Delivery Science (ACCORDS), Tenured Professor for the Department of Family Medicine, and Director of Healthy Eating and Activity across the Lifespan (HEAL) Lab.
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What got you into this field?
“I am a licensed behavioral medicine clinician, researcher, and educator in family medicine. I knew family medicine was the right fit for me early on in my career because I wanted to do clinical, research, and teaching related to optimizing whole-person health across the life course. Nowhere else can you work clinically or do research with families with a simultaneous focus on their physical, mental, behavioral, social, and spiritual health and with children, adolescents, and adults all at the same time.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“I love it all! Seeing how research and clinic bi-directionally inform each other and how teaching and mentoring overlay on top of that is what makes what I do so exciting, complicated, and fulfilling. I also love leading the Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS) because it supports others in being successful in carrying out trailblazing research that advances the health of children and families across the life course. I like to find ways to accelerate, integrate, and optimize across systems to help everyone benefit, from the patient and family to the clinician, researcher and educator, the Department and University, and the world around us.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“In the 15+ years that I have been in the field, I have now been able to see my own mentees become my colleagues. The next generation is so inspiring, and I hope to continue shaping and scaffolding their successes. I have also seen the field benefit and embrace the importance of whole-person health and integrating mental and behavioral health into medical visits. Additionally, I have seen the field grow and improve by carrying out innovative research through multidisciplinary teams, diversifying the workforce and leaders, and elevating unconditional inclusivity.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“You are needed! Women bring incredible innate and unique skills to family medicine and leadership positions. You can bring both your lived experience of being a woman, your intellect, and interpersonal savvy to clinical, educational, and research spaces and others will benefit. Working in teams that are highly diverse and multidisciplinary is what makes family medicine and all of academia more accomplished and successful.”
Bhar Chekuri, MD, is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Family Medicine, Director of Diploma in Climate Medicine, and Director of Climate & Health Science Policy Fellowship.
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What got you into this field?
“I liked the idea of caring for all ages and wanted to have continuity with my patients. I got into climate medicine because I personally felt unprepared to handle how the changing environment was affecting me and my colleagues' work, and my patients' health.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“Every day is different! And I get to take care of patients one on one, while also trying to deal with systems issues.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“I'll have to answer this in a few years as I'm pretty early in my career! I would hope there to continue to be advances in helping people balance work with their own health and family caregiving needs (whether that is parental leave, elder care, or other!).”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Find your mentors, friends and community!”
Colleen Conry, MD, retired Senior Vice Chair and Professor for the Department of Family Medicine. As one of the very first and few female employees at the CUA DFM, Dr. Conry has first-hand, seen the field and department change over the years.
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What got you into this field?
“I grew up with the family history of Dr. AF Williams - he was my grandparent's doctor, and it always seemed like being a family doctor was the best thing to do. As a medical student I experienced providing psychiatric care for a pregnant patient and then several months later being present for her delivery. Continuity! I also believed that relationships mattered and that much of healing happened through those relationships.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you were able to do?
“People are the reason we do all this work. I always cared deeply about my patients and their lives, but as one person I could only impact on my panel of 1,000 patients or so. By teaching residents and helping them become family physicians, I could expand the number of people who could be impacted. This includes our clinical staff, our support team for education and clinical care, and those wonderful people who are doing research to improve our care.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“While my medical school class in 1984 was half-female, I was totally surprised when I finished residency, and I was one of only a few women on the medical staff. The good news is that the world is much more equitable now and women can hold any position they desire. Unfortunately biases still exist but are often much more subtle. I wish for all women to be strong and recognize when sexism is happening and not internalize it as their problem/weakness.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Women absolutely belong in medicine and Family Medicine. We have so much to contribute. There are different attributes of women physicians, not better or worse but different, and society needs us. Family Medicine is always challenging, and new things happen all the time. I would also encourage women to take on leadership roles - it is an opportunity to make the world better for everyone.”
Brooke Dorsey Holliman PhD, MA, is the Director of ACCORDS Qualitative & Mixed Methods (QM2) Research Core, Associate Professor for the Department of Family Medicine, and Qualitative & Mixed Methodologist.
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What got you into this field?
“I was drawn to this field because of its emphasis on whole-person care and its deep connections to community health. As a researcher, I saw an opportunity to address systemic health disparities by centering the voices of patients, families, and communities, especially those historically marginalized in healthcare. My passion for qualitative research stems from a desire to uncover the lived experiences behind health statistics, ensuring that policy and practice are informed by the realities of those most affected.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“My favorite part of my work is engaging directly with people-patients, caregivers, providers, and community stakeholders–to understand their experiences and perspectives. There is something profoundly powerful about listening to and elevating voices that have long been ignored in healthcare research. Seeing my research translate into interventions or shifts in clinical practice that improve health outcomes is incredibly rewarding.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“Over time, I’ve seen more women entering and leading in medicine and research, but structural barriers still exist. There is increasing recognition of gender disparities in pay, leadership, and research funding, and more efforts are being made to address these gaps. While progress is happening, true equity requires continued advocacy and systemic change to ensure women, especially women of color, have equal opportunities and recognition in this field.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“I want future women in this field to know that their perspectives, experiences, and voices are not just valuable but necessary. This work requires resilience, as challenges persist in academia and research, particularly for women of color, but your contributions can transform the field. Find mentors and allies, advocate for yourself, and remember that your unique insights can drive meaningful change in healthcare and beyond.”
Vivian Jiang, MD, is a senior Instructor for the Department of Family Medicine and Family Physician for UC Health.
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What got you into this field?
“I sort of fell into it by accident. I was lucky enough to go to a medical school with a family medicine rotation during my clinical years. It was the last of 6 core rotations for me. My first 5 rotations were mostly inpatient. I received consistent feedback from attendings that I focused too much on social history and chronic care and needed to pay more attention to the acute issues. I almost quit medical school thinking it just wasn’t for me. My family medicine rotation was all outpatient, and I very distinctly remember just after the first few days feeling like it just felt right. I didn’t have to restrict my conversations with patients to just what they were in the hospital for. I could talk to them about whatever came naturally to my head, and it was finally the right thing to do!”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“It’s hard to choose just one favorite thing because I just like all of family medicine so much! I love being able to say ‘yes I can see you’ to anyone who walks through the door - baby, great grandpa, parent-to-be, ill, well - everyone. It’s nice to be able to say ‘yes.’ I love the continuity, the opportunity to walk the journey with people. I love that I have the power to be an advocate and to empower those less privileged than me. I love being able to tell kids they can be doctors too. I feel so honored that my job allows me both a direct lens into the real issues of society through the stories of my patients and a voice that people in positions of power will listen to.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“Certainly, the proportion of women in family medicine has increased over time. However, deeper change in the culture of family medicine and unconscious bias in medicine, lags behind what we see on the surface. I would say there are still significant challenges that women in family medicine face that non-women simply do not. As caregivers, women are lousy at advocating for ourselves, so I recommend instead that we look for opportunities to advocate for each other.”
- What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Despite all the things I love about my job, I must admit that it is hard. It is hard to be a caregiver at work and at home. It is hard to internalize how self-care makes oneself a better caregiver, and even harder still to do self-care. Luckily, in this field, we are surrounded by fellow women doctor caregivers. Find the ones that care as hard as you do and take care of each other.”
Melissa N Johnson, MD, is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Family Medicine and Family Physician at UC Health.
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What got you into this field?
“I became a Family Medicine physician because I felt it aligned best with my desire to connect with people and support them through their entire lives - the simple joys, the celebrations, the chaos, and the losses that make up our individual humanity. I feel honored every day that I am given the opportunity to have people's trust and to take care of multiple generations within individual families.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“The most special part of my work is sharing moments with my patients and have them know how deeply I care for them. One of the most incredible moments of my career was holding a small child and having him listen to his new sibling's heartbeat in his mother's belly- all of them my patients. The deep sense of care and trust was so profound. I also love the constant learning and adaptation involved in what I do. A large component of my work is dedicated to teaching medical students on an individual and curricular level. I am passionate about this as I see it as an avenue to give what I can to future physicians in terms of love and support in a rigorous and sometimes unforgiving environment.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“It is amazing to me that in the 1970s only about 5% of Family doctors were women and now that number is over 40%. When I was my daughter's age only 17% of Family Physicians were women. I had a scrub dress up set, I wonder what I would have said or thought if I'd been given the same message. If being a physician is someone's calling, I would encourage them that it is worth the sacrifices, hours, and dedication; wear ‘the scrubs’.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“My 5-year-old daughter came home and told me that another child said that ‘girls can't wear scrubs’, and her response was not to let that impact her identity but to let them know they were wrong. I would want those entering the field to know that this is a career where ‘girls can wear scrubs.’ They have a place and a voice. There are still inequities that exist, especially regarding people who choose to have children, and I am grateful to see the hard work being done in these spaces here at the DFM.”
Shandra M. Brown Levey, PhD, LP, is the Director of Behavioral Health and Integrated Programs and Associate Professor for the Department of Family Medicine.
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What got you into this field?
“My journey into psychology and medicine was shaped by a deep curiosity about human behavior and a desire to help people in meaningful ways as well as my own experiences with my family, in particular, my mother’s cancer journey in the late 1990’s. Early on, I was drawn to understanding the intersection of mental and physical health, which led me to pursue both art therapy and clinical health psychology. My first clinical experiences included working in a children’s hospital in pediatric oncology and pediatric nephrology. My first research experiences were with a cancer research hospital. Now, as a clinical psychologist working at the School of Medicine, I focus on integrating psychology into healthcare to improve outcomes.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“I love the opportunity to bridge science and human connection. Whether it’s teaching, conducting research, working with patients, or building new programs, I find fulfillment in helping people better understand themselves and their health. I also enjoy mentoring students and professionals as they navigate their careers in STEM.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career, specifically regarding women?
“The presence of women in psychology and medicine has grown significantly, but systemic barriers still exist. Earlier in my career, I noticed a lack of female leadership in academic and medical settings, that is beginning to shift, and we need to continue to ensure women are seen and get the support they need to thrive in STEM. More women are stepping into leadership roles, advocating for equity in research and clinical practice, and reshaping workplace culture. There is still work to do, and I am enthusiastic for what is possible when women are truly supported and recognized for the amazing contributions, they bring in myriad ways.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Your voice, perspective, and expertise are invaluable. Women in STEM often face unique challenges, but we also bring essential insights that drive innovation and care. Advocate for yourself, seek out mentors who help you grow in unique and sometimes challenging ways so you can see what you may be missing, build a strong support system, and don’t be afraid to challenge outdated norms remembering that progress happens when we step up and advocate for needed change. I want women now and future generations of women to know there is ample space for you here, your contributions matter, and are deeply needed.”
Myra Muramoto, MD, MPH, FAAFP, has made history as the very first female Woodward-Chisholm Professor and Chair of the CUA DFM. Her career was inspired by other powerful women along the way.
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What got you into this field?
“Up until high school, I was much more interested in art and poetry than science. Then my mother developed lots of complications from diabetes, including vision loss, and kidney failure needing dialysis and a kidney transplant (that failed). She died suddenly when I was 18. In the last few years of my mother’s life, I spent so much time in hospitals and with doctors that I became interested in medicine, especially family medicine, because I experienced first-hand the huge impact of chronic disease and serious illness on everyone in our family. We were her caregivers. I lived the importance of family in both health and disease. So, when I applied to medical school, I knew I wanted to be a family physician.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“There are so many parts of my work that I truly enjoy and find meaningful. As a department chair, I find lots of satisfaction and meaning in creating opportunities and an environment where others can succeed. My teaching and mentoring, which is now mostly focused on leadership development for senior leaders in family medicine, is very fulfilling. Even after all these years, and all the changes and challenges in medical practice, caring for patients still fills my cup and feeds my heart in a way that nothing else does.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“There are a lot more women leaders in family medicine and medicine in general. In 2002, the family medicine department chair that trained me became the first woman chair in the University of Arizona college of Medicine. I am the first woman chair to lead our Department of Family Medicine since its inception in 1975. Over half of family physicians are women. I now direct a national family medicine leadership development fellowship that prepares faculty for senior leadership positions such as department chair, vice chair, service line director, etc. Women are rising strong in Family Medicine, contributing hugely to our discipline and the patients, learners, and communities we serve.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Family Medicine, and the patients, learners and communities we serve, all need you! Medicine in general needs you! I get asked: ‘If you could do it all over again, would you still choose a career in medicine? Would you still choose family medicine?’ The answer is unequivocal ‘Yes! And yes!’ Family physicians have broad training across the spectrum of care, and the lifespan of patients. Over the course of my career, this broad training and the biopsychosocial foundations of family medicine have created amazing career opportunities I could have never imagined when I started.”
Jessica Parascando, MPH, is the Research Services Program Manager for the Practice Innovation Program and the Primary Care Diabetes Lab in the Department of Family Medicine.
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What got you into this field?
“My interest in research began in high school after watching an episode of the television show, ‘Boy Meets World.’ In the episode, one of the characters volunteered for a sleep study, and the researcher was really confused when the character didn’t have any brain activity while he slept. I knew immediately that I wanted to be a researcher so that I could discover and observe such fascinating findings. I know that the brain abnormality was scripted for comedic purposes, but it was representative of how researchers dedicate their time and effort to improving the lives of others. This is especially true in Family Medicine where faculty and staff work tirelessly on complex patient issues and effective ways to improve patient outcomes.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“It is a combination of the teams I work on, involvement in solving problems, and helping people through our research. As a program manager, I am fortunate to have a variety of responsibilities and the unique perspective of projects from start to finish based on the work and collaboration of entire teams. It is refreshing and inspiring that so many different roles can share their voices and come together to improve the overall health and well-being of different groups of people.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“I have degrees in Psychology and Public Health. During my education and 15+ years in research (neuroscience, public health, family medicine), I’ve always noticed that my fellow students and research staff were predominantly female. However, lab leadership, particularly, Principal Investigators, were usually male. Most of their career mentors and collaborators were male as well. I’ve noticed in the latter portion of the last 15ish years more women are holding these leadership positions, obtaining grant funding and receiving research related awards. It is encouraging and inspirational for so many women and children who have an interest in discovery and want to work in STEM.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Trust your gut, learn as much as you can, and take time to appreciate where you currently are in your career. So many people race to the next phase or step instead of reflecting on what is happening in the moment.”
Deborah Parra-Medina, PhD, MPH/MSPH, is the Executive Director for the Center for Health Equity and visiting Professor for the Department of Family Medicine.
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What got you into this field?
“My training is in Public Health, specifically health promotion and epidemiology. I was drawn to the field because it is rooted in social justice. Health promotion enables people to increase control over their own health by addressing root causes of disease rather than just focusing on treatment and cure.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“What matters most to me is advancing scholarship that eliminates health disparities and developing interventions to prevent chronic disease. My favorite part is working with communities to identify issues of concern and solutions. The academic setting allows me to train and mentor future generations of public health researchers and practitioners.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“When I began in public health, women were well-represented in the workforce but less visible in leadership. Today, women increasingly shape research agendas and lead major initiatives. The field has evolved from viewing women's health narrowly through a reproductive lens to more comprehensive approaches. We've seen greater recognition of intersectionality in health outcomes. While mentorship opportunities have expanded, barriers persist, particularly for women of color. What gives me hope is seeing more women bringing diverse perspectives to public health challenges and mentoring the next generation.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Seize opportunities, even those outside your comfort zone. Build relationships within and beyond your organization. Growing from failures and difficulties are opportunities for growth. Never stop learning to remain relevant in your field. Don't compare yourself to others; your journey is unique. Focus on your own path and progress rather than measuring yourself against others.”
Regina D. Richards, PhD, MSW, is the Vice Chancellor for the Office of Access and Engagement and Assistant Professor for the Department of Family Medicine.
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What got you into this field?
“Before I completed my PhD, I knew I wanted to be a faculty member in either family medicine or pediatrics because of the missions of these departments, and the alignment of their work with my core values as a community social worker. I pursued the career of community social worker because of the theoretical frameworks that centered around service to humanity, justice, system-thinking and change management utilizing the socioecological model. Collectively these frameworks address removing barriers and providing access and engagement to fair opportunities. These frameworks also provide the roadmap to addressing upstream drivers to eliminate disparities for better health outcomes.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“Several of my favorite things about the work I do center around bi-directional leadership development, relationship building and addressing complex issues utilizing a systematic team approach. Additionally, I love working here at CU Anschutz Medical Campus because I appreciate working with smart, innovative, compassionate, supportive people who are servant leaders.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“Leadership now represents more woman in positions of power and privilege. Research has proven that difference is an attribute that provides gains to valuable knowledge and skills leading to increased productivity and innovation. Women need to make certain they have and activate strategies for their own well-being, which includes dedicating time to adhere to the plans, including giving ourselves permission to focus some of our attention on our holistic wellness. This ultimately reduces burn-out and allows us to be the best version of ourselves.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Working in an academic and/or external community environment requires knowledge, skills and strength to advance the work. Leadership requires curiosity, and an understanding that system changes take time. Flexibility, strategic alignment and data are also required to support the identified needs and understand how to best leverage bi-direction asset building. Strategic, systemic, and sustainable changes are the results of collective collaboration, trust building and active listening which requires patience and vision and an understanding that some of those attributes are acquired over time.”
Rachel S. Rodriguez, MD, FAAFP, is a Faculty Physician for Lone Tree Primary Care, Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs and Assistant Professor for the Department of Family Medicine.
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What got you into this field?
“Aside from being a science geek, the two things I had always identified most strongly as in my life were 1) being a teacher and 2) being a caregiver. For the most part, this was the most natural decision of my life! Family Medicine incorporates most of what I have to offer. There are so many aspects of patient care that bring me joy—but there is nothing quite like helping to educate a person about their body or their symptoms and have them genuinely feel, ‘yes, that makes SENSE!’.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“Patient care. I love the relationships I have with my patients. The fact that they trust me to help them through this journey of life is a most humbling and rewarding gift. When I was younger, I used to get teary-eyed, sometimes, when I was thinking about or learning something new and incredible about the human body—even this far into my career, though the teary-eyed moments are much fewer, I still completely geek out at how amazing the body is and the systems within are. Getting to share what I know and love in educating other human beings about the skin they're in; I consider myself fairly blessed.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career?
“Today, family medicine often requires a delicate balance between providing exceptional care to patients and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. As a woman, navigating this balance can sometimes be fraught with guilt, as societal expectations often carry an implicit pressure to be self-sacrificing in both the professional and personal realms. I want to serve my patients well, but I also want to go home at the end of the day to be present for my family. Embracing this dual role of physician and mother, without compromising either, reflects a broader cultural shift in the medical profession toward acknowledging the need for balance, self-care, and recognizing the humanness of the ‘healer’.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Learn how to set your boundaries, early. Women, especially, tend to give a lot more of themselves to others than really is reasonable to expect. While this is a marvelously warm and appreciated attribute—it can take its toll if it is not reigned in. Find a woman who can mentor and guide you through the ups and downs of starting your career—allow them to help guide you in your understanding of how all these boundaries might look, early, so you can start developing your comfort zone.”
Abigail Rolbiecki-Adams, PhD, MPH, MSW, is an Associate Professor for the Department Family Medicine.
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What got you into this field?
“My path into this field is deeply rooted in my own experience as a sibling caregiver for my seriously ill brother, who passed away during my senior year of high school. Over time, I’ve come to understand that family caregivers—those who provide round-the-clock care to loved ones with serious or chronic illnesses—often face significant psychological and physical consequences. I saw firsthand how caregivers struggled to alleviate suffering with limited resources, which has become a driving force behind my work. My goal is to find ways to ease this burden and improve the quality of life for both patients and the caregivers who support them.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“The favorite part of my work is a blend of the research I do and the opportunity to mentor others. Of course, research is central to my day-to-day, and I am deeply passionate about it. But what truly energizes me is mentoring students, junior faculty, and clinicians who are eager to gain more experience with research. I also strongly value a multidisciplinary approach in my work. It’s so rewarding to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Engaging with folks at various points in their research careers—whether they’re just starting out or are seasoned professionals—creates an environment of shared learning.”
- How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“When I first started, there were fewer women in leadership positions, and the expectations around work-life balance often felt more restrictive, particularly for those balancing caregiving responsibilities at home. It was common to see women trying to fit into a mold of what it meant to be successful in this field, often at the expense of their own well-being. However, I’ve seen an encouraging shift in recent years, with more women stepping into leadership roles, advocating for change, and reshaping the landscape of our profession.”
- What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“While the road can sometimes feel challenging, especially given the inequities that still exist in healthcare and academia, they are not alone. Resilience doesn’t mean pushing through on your own; it means leaning into community and recognizing that your success is not only personal, but collective. It’s also important to remember that no journey is linear. You will make mistakes, and you will face setbacks. But those moments can become powerful learning experiences that ultimately shape you into a stronger leader. What’s most crucial is that you remain curious, stay true to your passion, and always seek out the support you need. The field is richer when we all thrive together, and your unique perspective is invaluable in creating the change we need.”
Elizabeth Westfeldt, BSN, RN, is a Clinical Research Nurse for the Primary Care Diabetes Lab and Health Care Principal Professional for the Department of Family Medicine.
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What got you into this field?
“I got into family medicine to help patients of varying backgrounds and geographical locations that primary care serves. This provides great opportunities to have meaningful impact through personal relationships. The research our team conducts is primarily done in endocrinology. It is our mission to provide access to advanced diabetes technologies to patients only seen by primary care. We work with the goal of leveling the care field for all people living with diabetes. I am hugely passionate about this and see the impact of our work through the gratification and improved outcomes of research participants.”
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What is your favorite part of the work that you do?
“Working with research participants is a highlight of my work. It is gratifying to be able to have a positive impact on someone’s life and health. The nature of our research allows for individualized education, shared decision making, and empowerment.”
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How has the profession changed over time during your career? Specifically, regarding women?
“My career as a nurse is still in its early stages. Through nursing school, bedside nursing was the emphasis of education and path. COVID and its lingering effect on the healthcare system, has shifted some nurses away from the bedside, myself included. I had previous diabetes research experience and the integration of nursing with research is an ideal fit for me.”
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What would you like future women entering the field to know?
“Nursing allows for a unique blend of science and human connection. I see it as an art and practice that is evolving from both medical education and in personal relationships.”
A special and heartfelt thank you to all these incredible women for their stories, advice, and wisdom.