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
Events
The AAMC Early-Career & Mid-Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar: Sharing the Application Process & Seminar Highlights
Friday, May 9, 2025
12:00noon-1:00pm
Zoom (meeting log-in details will be sent by email to registrants)
Recent UVA faculty attendees of the AAMC Early-Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar and AAMC Mid-Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar will share insights about the application process and seminar highlights. This session will be helpful for people who are considering any of the AAMC conferences and for mentors/sponsors who want to know more about the process and the benefits.
To receive the Zoom link, please register here.
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.
The Committee on Women in Medicine and Science (COWIMS), is honored to recognize the work of Dr. Xuemei Huang MD, PhD, as April’s Woman of the Month, for her outstanding leadership in Neurology.
A renowned expert in Parkinson’s disease, Dr Huang assumed leadership as Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology on August 1, 2024. Her forward-thinking approach, combined with a collaborative spirit, sets her apart as a distinguished leader, clinician, and educator.
“Dr. Xuemei Huang has quickly become an integral leader. With an exceptional background in research, she has already built and established a mentorship program to support both seasoned researchers and those navigating their first grant submissions. Beyond research, she has been a strong advocate for medical education, taking a hands-on approach in support of additional funding for the expansion of both the child and adult neurology residency programs. Lastly, Dr. Huang is also deeply committed to fostering a culture of recognition and collaboration. She believes that success is a shared effort, and she actively highlights the achievements of all department members.” remarks, Dr. Kathryn Xixis, Assistant Professor of Neurology.
Her ability to connect with people is truly remarkable. Dr. Huang takes a genuine interest in each person’s journey, learning what brought them here and, most importantly listening to their big ideas and aspirations for the future. Her warmth and curiosity create an environment where people feel valued, heard, and inspired to pursue their goals.
It is no surprise that Virginia Business, has named Dr. Huang as one of its 100 people to meet in 2025.
The Committee on Women in Medicine and Science extends its gratitude to Dr. Huang for her significant contributions to both clinical practice and neurological research. As a visionary scientist and inspiring leader, she is shaping the future of neurological care and research, bringing better solutions and brighter outcomes for patients.
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.
