The American College of Physicians (ACP) and American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) co-hosted “An Evening for the Women Physicians of East Central Indiana” on August 21 at IU School of Medicine—Muncie. Over thirty individuals were in attendance, ranging from new medical students to retired physicians who have served for over forty years. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD, Former President of AMWA and Barbara F. Kampen Professor of Women’s Health, spoke on the status of women physicians in Indiana.
Additional updates were delivered by Mackensey Saxton, a third-year medical student and Heidi Lakanen, MD, adjunct clinical professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine—Muncie.
Lynn Witty, MD, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor Medicine at IU School of Medicine—Muncie, was honored with the “Local Hero’s AMWA Award” for her decades of service, first as a pulmonary/critical care physician, and now as a key mentor/teacher to the medical students. An alumnus of the IU School of Medicine—Muncie campus, she returned to IU Health Ball after completing her critical care training to serve as a critical care physician and teacher to medical students and residents. Why critical care? “I love working in the ICU.” Now she is providing key mentorship to several medical students at the IU School of Medicine—Muncie campus. She is a great example of a physician providing encouragement and perspective to the upcoming generation of physicians.
Witty along with three other physicians, Christina Kurakula, MD, Erin Vinson, DO, adjunct clinical assistant professor of family medicine, and Lora Jones-McClure, MD, shared their personal stories about challenges, joys and survival tips in medicine.
