Women of Penn

In this #WomenofPenn blog, Pennsylvania Hospital CEO Theresa Larivee and recent Penn MD/MBA grad Serena Dasani discuss career opportunities that mix the clinical and business worlds, finding balance as a leader, and developing a big picture, 360-degree mindset.

Fresh out of residency, Christine Stabler, MD, was initially ambivalent about exploring the academic side of family medicine. But, her misgivings quickly faded when she discovered that teaching brought her as much joy as caring for patients.

It only takes a moment for Carmen Guerra, MD, MSCE, and Alina Mateo, MD, MS, to realize they have a great deal in common. Despite moving to the U.S. so early in life, the glimpses of poverty, disease, and disparities they both saw in their early years coupled with the challenges they faced as non-English speaking students, made an impression that continues to drive their careers.

Maybe it was her stint as a candy striper when she was in ninth grade, or her job as a unit secretary on a patient care unit. But Deborah Driscoll, MD, knew early on that she wanted to enter medicine.

Kristy L. Weber, MD, FACS, wears a lot of hats. As Chief of Orthopaedic Oncology at Penn and Director of the Sarcoma Program in the Abramson Cancer Center, Dr. Weber treats patients with bone and soft tissue tumors, as well as metastatic bone disease.

For Judith Margolin, the question of what career path to follow was answered at a very young age.

If you’ve ever wanted to throw your computer or smartphone across the room because of an irritating piece of software, you probably appreciate the work of human factors scientists who have shaped the design of other software programs that just seem to work without your having to think about it.

If you asked Ann Huffenberger to thrive during nearly any point in history, not only it is highly likely that she would, but chances are she’d build a top-rate team to excel along with her.

Here at Penn, you don’t have to look far for inspiration, barrier-breakers, and mentors when it comes to women in science. In 2018, Penn Medicine was even listed as the #2 best employer for women in the nation by Forbes.