Inspiring Connections: Stony Brook’s Women in Healthcare Panel Guides Future Professionals

On October 17, students from the Pathways to Healthcare program and those interested in medicine gathered in the Health Sciences Center for an engaging event - the Women in Healthcare Panel.

The Women in Healthcare Panel, hosted October 17 in the Health Sciences Center, inspired the future generation of healthcare professionals.

Fifteen inspiring professionals from Stony Brook Medicine spoke with students interested in healthcare professions. Their respected positions ranged from roles in social work, clinical pharmacy, nursing, neurosurgery and beyond. Panelists spent close to two hours speaking with students about their work, challenges and joys experienced professionally.

The panel was coordinated by Dr. Robert Nocito, clinical assistant professor and attending physician from the Department of Emergency Medicine, and Dr. Jillian Leibowitz, PGY3 EM chief resident. Other event coordinators included the Pathways to Healthcare Programand the Stony Brook University Career Center, the former being a credit-bearing externship that is offered for underrepresented and underserved students who are interested in exploring healthcare as a profession. The year-long program includes two-hour weekly meetings and is co-led by two physicians from Stony Brook University Hospital, one being Dr. Nocito.

Opening remarks for the panel were delivered by Dr. Nocito, who detailed the history of the Pathways program. Dr. Leibowitz moderated the panel using questions students had submitted. The topics ranged from gender bias, workplace challenges, personal resilience, workplace culture and diversity in medicine.

Several of the doctors shared their unique paths and personal motivations that led them to the world of medicine. Ana Maria Lopez, MD, expressed the joy she feels every time she can provide comfort to patients and their families who speak Spanish as their first language. Priyanka Ramchandra, MD, described her journey as being a transitional time in her life, and explained how she switched from film to take a gap year. During this time, Ramchandra taught middle schoolers in underserved districts until she decided to apply to medical school.

All the panelists encouraged students to find mentors in the field who can get to know them and support their goals, regardless of gender or race. Chinenya Okudoh, MD (PGY2 EM resident) said, "One of the things that helped me succeed was realizing that even if you don't look like everyone else, you can still achieve great things. It's about being confident in your journey and standing up for yourself."

Following advice delivered at the panel, Shanell Rollon - a sophomore in the Pathways to Healthcare program - gained a new understanding of medicine and the career paths she can take. "From practical insights on medical school applications to the inspiration gained from remarkable women in healthcare, I'm more motivated than ever to follow this path," Rollon shared.

"Empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders begins with fostering meaningful connections and sharing knowledge," said Dr. Nocito, speaking about the event. "The success of our Q&A panel of women healthcare professionals highlights the importance of diverse voices and experiences in shaping the future of medicine. By offering undergraduate students a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of women in healthcare, we not only inspire them to pursue their goals but also encourage a more inclusive and equitable future for the industry as a whole."

The event coordinators would like to thank the panelists and healthcare professionals who were in attendance:

Robert Nocito, MD (ER)
Jillian Leibowitz, DO (PGY3 EM Chief Resident)
Sara Rosenzweig, MD (PGY3 EM Chief Resident)
Amanda Baroutjian, MD (PGY3 EM Resident)
Chinenye Okudoh, MD (PGY2 EM Resident)
Aneesa Ali, DO (EM Ultrasound Fellow/ER Physician)
Katrina D'Amore, DO (EM Attending Physician)
Aleca Scoco, MD (Neurosurgeon, Neurocritical Care Intensivist)
Ana Costa, MD (Anesthesiologist)
Isadora Botwinick, MD (General Surgeon/Trauma Surgeon)
Priyanka Ramachandra, MD (General Surgery Chief Resident)
Ana Lopez, MD (PGY4 Medicine-Pediatrics Resident)
Jane Moldovan, PA (ER Physician's Assistant)
Liya Johnson, PharmD (ER Pharmacist)
AnnMarie Lupo, RN (ER Nurse)
Natalie Romond (ER Social Worker)

Interested in attending other related events? Check out the events page on Handshake. If you are interested in the Pathways to Healthcare program, the application for next year will go live in February on the program's websiteand Handshake.

- Melanie Karniewich

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