April 18, 2016

Annual WISDM Leadership Conference recognizes women in science, dentistry and medicine

Share this story

By Anne Dreyfuss
C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research

Female leaders in science, dentistry and medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University celebrated their achievements and learned from one another at the 24th annual WISDM conference on April 8. The organization, which stands for Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine, hosted faculty and staff from VCU, VCU Health and the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center for the conference that this year carried the theme “What’s in Your Leadership Toolbox: Do You Have the Essentials?”

The event honored two faculty members who have forged paths to leadership for themselves and now help others do the same. It also featured workshops, facilitated discussions and a presentation by keynote speaker Matthew Freeman, founding principal and lead consultant at TMI Consulting Inc., which is a diversity and inclusion consulting firm located on Grace Street in downtown Richmond.

Keynote speaker Matthew Freeman discussed strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace during the 24th annual WISDM leadership conference. Photo by Thomas Kojcsich, University Marketing.
Keynote speaker Matthew Freeman discussed strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace during the 24th annual WISDM leadership conference. Photo by Thomas Kojcsich, University Marketing.

“If you are a member of a group that is marginalized in any way in society, it is highly likely that you carry some of those negative messages internally about yourself and you act on them when interacting with people who also are members of that group,” Freeman said to an audience largely comprising female scientists, dentists and physicians. During his talk, Freeman encouraged the conference attendees to focus on the qualities of the individuals they interact with, rather than associate those individuals with the groups that they belong to.

WISDM and those in attendance then honored two women who have forged paths to leadership for themselves and now help others do the same. The annual WISDM Professional Achievement Awards — a highlight of the conference every year — were presented to Cheryl S. Al-Mateen, M.D., and Laurie C. Carter, D.D.S., Ph.D.

The awards recognize women who have served as strong role models and mentors for the professional development of women faculty and who consistently demonstrate excellence in mentoring, scholarship, leadership and teaching.

Cheryl S. Al-Mateen, M.D., (left) was one of the women honored with the WISDM Professional Achievement Award at this year’s conference. PonJola Coney, M.D., (right) presented the award. Photo by Thomas Kojcsich, University Marketing.
Cheryl S. Al-Mateen, M.D., (left) was one of the women honored with the WISDM Professional Achievement Award at this year’s conference. PonJola Coney, M.D., (right) presented the award. Photo by Thomas Kojcsich, University Marketing.

PonJola Coney, M.D., senior associate dean for faculty affairs at the VCU School of Medicine, introduced Al-Mateen, who joined the VCU School of Medicine in 1989.

“Dr. Al-Mateen has compiled an outstanding and enviable record of service to the School of Medicine and the university,” Coney said of the associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, who was recently appointed interim medical director of the Virginia Treatment Center for Children. “She has been at the front and center of efforts to advance diversity and cultural competency in our learning environment and she has been a tireless advocate for providing better patient-centered care.”

David Sarrett, D.M.D., dean of the VCU School of Dentistry, introduced Carter.

“I am amazed we hadn’t selected Dr. Carter to receive this award already,” he said. The professor and director of oral and maxillofacial radiology in the VCU School of Dentistry’s Department of Oral Diagnostic Science also serves as director of advanced dental education programs at the school. She has worked at VCU since 2000.

“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at the same time,” Carter said during her award acceptance speech, adding that she attributes success throughout her career to her strategy of focusing on individual activities such as research or administration for a period of years, rather than trying to do it all at once.

Laurie C. Carter, D.D.S., Ph.D., (left) accepted the WISDM Professional Achievement Award this year from VCU School of Dentistry Dean David Sarrett, D.M.D. Photo by Thomas Kojcsich, University Marketing.
Laurie C. Carter, D.D.S., Ph.D., (left) accepted the WISDM Professional Achievement Award this year from VCU School of Dentistry Dean David Sarrett, D.M.D. Photo by Thomas Kojcsich, University Marketing.

The final portion of the awards presentation included recognition of the support the WISDM organization has received over the years from Sarrett; Coney; Jerome Strauss, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the VCU School of Medicine; Julie Beales, M.D., chief of staff at Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center; and Marsha Rappley, M.D., CEO of VCU Health and senior vice president for health sciences at VCU.

Following the awards and recognitions, participants attended workshops such as “Finding the Mentors and Mentoring you Need,” “Improving Performance through Interactive Feedback” and “Behavioral Interviewing Basics.”

 

Subscribe for free to the weekly VCU News email newsletter at http://newsletter.news.vcu.edu/ and receive a selection of stories, videos, photos, news clips and event listings in your inbox every Thursday.