Students interested in healthcare careers gathered at the Health Sciences Center on October 17 for a panel discussion featuring fifteen professionals from Stony Brook Medicine. The Women in Healthcare Panel was part of the Pathways to Healthcare program, designed for underrepresented and underserved students exploring careers in healthcare.
The event was organized by Dr. Robert Nocito, clinical assistant professor and attending physician, and Dr. Jillian Leibowitz, PGY3 EM chief resident. The panel also had support from the Pathways to Healthcare Program and the Stony Brook University Career Center. Dr. Nocito opened with remarks on the history of the Pathways program, while Dr. Leibowitz moderated discussions using questions submitted by students.
Topics covered included gender bias, workplace challenges, personal resilience, workplace culture, and diversity in medicine. Ana Maria Lopez, MD shared her experience providing comfort to Spanish-speaking patients and their families. Priyanka Ramchandra, MD discussed her transition from film to medicine after teaching middle schoolers during a gap year.
Panelists emphasized mentorship's importance regardless of gender or race. Chinenya Okudoh, MD (PGY2 EM resident) stated: “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."
Shanell Rollon, a sophomore in the Pathways program, expressed newfound motivation: “From practical insights on medical school applications to the inspiration gained from remarkable women in healthcare.”
Dr. Nocito highlighted the significance of diverse voices: “Empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders begins with fostering meaningful connections and sharing knowledge.”
The coordinators thanked all participating professionals:
- 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
For more events or information about joining next year's Pathways program starting February visit Handshake.
— Melanie Karniewich