Committee on Women in Medicine and Science (COWIMS)
(Left-Right): Kim Insua de la Cruz, MD, Meg Keeley, MD, Ling Qi, PhD, Sue Pollart, MD, Dean Melina Kibbe, MD, Lynn McDaniel, MD, Kate McManus, MD, Evelyn Aboagye, MD, Ourania Preventza, MD, Alyssa Mixon, DO, Adanna Akujuo, MD, Kathryn Xixis, MD, Debora Ferreira, MD, Subhashis Banerjee, PhD
Mission
The UVA Committee on Women in Medicine & Science (COWIMS) promotes and enables the representation, development, and contributions of all individuals.
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Who We Are
Dr. Kate McManus, Chair of COWIMS
“I have a longstanding passion and interest in helping to achieve gender equity in medicine and science and in empowering women in these fields. Women in medicine and science who are empowered, encouraged, and valued improves the retention of key talent who are essential to making UVA a Great and Good university. I look forward to the opportunity to enthusiastically contribute my passion and expertise to drive significant progress towards achieving the committee’s strategic goals.” ~Kate McManus, MD
Dr. McManus joined the University of Virginia Health System and School of Medicine (SOM) in 2010, completed her Internal Medicine residency, and served as a chief resident year and Infectious Diseases fellowship at UVA. She joined the Department of Medicine (DOM) faculty as an inaugural iTHRIV Faculty Scholar in July 2017. Dr. McManus has been an active member of the SOM DOM Women in Internal Medicine Network (WIMN) group since its inception in 2015 and has served as a co-chair of the group since 2019. We are grateful for the leadership experience on behalf of women faculty that Dr. McManus brings to this position and know her experience as a faculty member active in all mission areas will greatly benefit our faculty members.
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- Kendall Bromley, Co-president coWIMS
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- Katie Kraichely, Medical Scientist Training Program; AFFIRM Co-president
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- Caroline Riedstra, Co-president coWIMS
Advocacy and Awards
Professional Development
Data Analytics
Programming/Events
Media
News
School of Medicine women Assistant Professors: Applications are now open for the AAMC’s Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar. For details, see the AAMC’s announcement, below.
For this conference, the Committee on Women in Medicine and Science is thrilled to offer a Leadership Development Travel Award, in the amount of up to $1,000, for to up to four women faculty who are accepted to participate in the AAMC’s Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar.
To apply for this travel award, please SUBMIT AN APPLICATION HERE, and include a PDF copy of your AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar application and curriculum vitae at the time of your seminar application.
If you are selected to attend the Seminar and selected to receive the Leadership Development Travel Award, COWIMS requests that you prepare a summary describing what you learned while participating in the Seminar, and present it to (1) the SOM community and (2) your department at a department faculty meeting. COWIMS will send additional details, upon notifying you of your receipt of this award.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Kate McManus, Chair of the Committee on Women in Medicine and Science. Please see the note below for details about the seminar and eligibility (women faculty with a minimum of two years of experience, appointed on/before July 2023) as an Assistant Professor.
Apply here
Woman of the Month Series
The COWIMS Woman of the Month feature is a once monthly series designed to highlight a woman in our community.
COWIMS Honors Dr. Wendy Lynch as May’s Woman of the Month for Her Groundbreaking Work in Addiction Research
The Committee on Women in Medicine and Science (COWIMS) is proud to recognize Wendy Lynch, PhD, as May’s Woman of the Month. Dr. Lynch, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, is being honored for her pioneering research in the field of addiction neuroscience.
Dr. Anita H. Clayton, Wilford W. Spradlin Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences praises, Dr. Lynch’s contributions stating, “The Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences has strength in research and clinical care in women’s mental health and addictions. Dr. Wendy Lynch is our anchor in basic science for the assessment of sex differences, the effects of hormonal changes across time, and the interaction between sex steroids and neurotransmitters using rodents. She is incredibly collaborative and has consistently been an outstanding mentor in the BIMS program. Her positive, can-do attitude, coupled with a brilliant and creative mind, is exceptional!”
Dr. Lynch dedicates her research to understanding how the brain changes once addiction has taken hold. Her lab focuses on the neurobiology of addiction, using preclinical models to explore the intricate processes that underlie substance use disorders. By including both male and female subjects in her studies, Dr. Lynch also sheds light on crucial sex differences in how addiction develops and manifests in the brain.
Her research has shown that females are generally more vulnerable than males to the reinforcing effects of drugs across all stages of addiction, including acquisition, maintenance, escalation, and relapse. Her lab is particularly interested in identifying the biological factors behind these sex differences. This includes exploring the role of hormones, age, dopaminergic signaling, and the interactions between these elements.
In addition to investigating the biological underpinnings of addiction, Dr. Lynch’s lab is actively exploring potential pharmacotherapies. Animal models play a central role in this work, helping to clarify how potential medications influence behavior and brain function. This research is not only critical for developing effective treatments but also for identifying individuals who may be at greater risk for addiction.
The ultimate aim of Dr. Lynch’s work is to uncover new interventions for treating substance use disorders in humans. Through a combination of behavioral, pharmacological, and molecular techniques, her lab continues to make strides toward a deeper understanding of addiction—and a future where recovery is more attainable for all.
As the nation faces rising addiction rates, research like Dr. Lynch’s is playing a vital role in shaping future treatment options and informing public health strategies. COWIMS celebrates Dr. Wendy Lynch for her dedication, innovation, and impactful contributions to science and medicine.
If you would like to nominate a future COWIMS Woman of the Month, click here.
Resources
May 21, 2024, COWIMS held an AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar: Sharing about the Application Process & Seminar Highlights. Recent UVA faculty attendees of the AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar shared insights about the application process and seminar highlights. This session was intended to be helpful for women who are considering any of the AAMC conferences for women faculty and mentors/sponsors who want to know more about the process and the benefits. Learn more about AAMC here. A recording of the session can be found here.
