New Publication Features Women in Science Careers at
the National Institute
s of Health
"Women in Science at the National Institutes of Health 2007-2008" is a new
publication showcasing the achievements of some of the accomplished women at the
NIH and is intended to inspire a diversity of girls and boys, women and men to
enter or continue in science careers. Sponsored and prepared by the NIH Office
of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) with assistance from the members of the NIH
Coordinating Committee on Research on Women’s Health, the book celebrates the
careers and accomplishments of 289 talented female scientists and administrators
who are part of the NIH community. Each NIH Institute, Center and Office
recommended up to 15 doctoral-level women to be featured in the publication.
The book features a wide range of the roles, positions, and contributions of
women across the NIH, including but not limited to, clinicians, basic
scientists, program directors, policy analysts, computer scientists,
epidemiologists, geneticists, and statisticians, as well as directors and deputy
directors of NIH Institutes and Centers. Each profile consists of biographical
information and research interests, descriptions of experiences that shaped
their careers, how they manage work/life balance, and each woman's thoughts on
the importance of mentoring — both being mentored and mentoring others.
"I have personally been inspired by these women scientists, who have earned
the great respect with which they are regarded, both by those in the NIH
community as well as by those in the greater scientific community," said Vivian
W. Pinn, M.D., NIH associate director for research on women’s health and
director of ORWH. "Rather than a directory of the totality of women scientists
at the NIH, this effort is meant to highlight examples of the variety of roles,
positions and contributions of doctoral-level women across the NIH."
Readers will learn about the different paths each woman has taken and be
encouraged by the women's personal stories. The book features women who started
their education at community colleges, women who didn't go to graduate school
until they were in their 40's and women whose childhood circumstances led them
into a particular field of interest, such as addiction science. Some of these
women pursued high-level science careers while raising children alone; others
balanced the demands of their job with the demands of a husband’s equally
challenging job.
The book models the success stories of women in science to encourage aspiring
science students as well as for established scientists and serves as a guide to
the diversity of policy, administration, and research areas at the NIH. The
publication honors the exemplary leadership of Dr. Ruth Kirschstein, the first
woman to serve as director of a NIH institute, and former Deputy Director and
Acting Director of NIH, who among her many accomplishments established the
Office of Research on Women's Health in 1990 and served as a role model for
scores of women and men in research and scientific leadership positions. Dr.
Kirschstein, who spent more than 50 years as a civil servant, died in October
2009.
To download an electronic copy or order a hard copy of "Women in Science at
the National Institutes of Health 2007-2008," go to: http://orwh.od.nih.gov/
The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), Office of the Director,
National Institutes of Health (NIH) serves as a focal point for women’s health
research at the NIH. For more information about NIH's Office of Research on
Women’s Health, visit http://orwh.od.nih.gov/.
The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for
setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves
planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH
components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are
responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH.
Additional information is available at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/. The
National Institutes of Health (NIH) —
The Nation's Medical Research
Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for
conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research,
and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare
diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. |
