VCU honorees among those recognized as YWCA Outstanding Women Award recipients

By Malorie Burkett

Virginia Commonwealth University boasts two recipients of this year’s YWCA of Richmond Outstanding Women Awards for 2007.

The awards recognize achievement in 10 categories including arts, business, communications, education, health and science, human relations, government and politics, law, religion and volunteerism.

Dr. Michelle Whitehurst-Cook, associate dean for admissions in the VCU School of Medicine and associate professor of family medicine received her award in the health and science category.

She has served on the School of Medicine faculty since 1993 and also serves as director of predoctoral programs in the Department of Family Medicine, chair of the VCU School of Medicine admissions committee and co-physician coordinator for the foundations of clinical medicine required course for first and second year medical students.

Rebecca “Becky’ Massey, chair of the fund development committee at the VCU Massey Cancer Center, received her award for volunteerism. Massey has helped raise more than $112 million for the new Goodwin Research Laboratory at the cancer center and its researchers.

She was the force behind developing Becky’s Garden at the new Massy Cancer Center lab facility – a respite space for patients and their families.

This year’s other Outstanding Women Award honorees include Joan O. Oates, Partners in the Arts; Maureen Denlea Massey, Markel Corporation; Jann Malone, Richmond Times-Dispatch; Dr. Belinda Childress Anderson, Virginia Union University; Ellen Robertson, Richmond City Council, 6th District; Sherrie Brach, United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg; Tara Louise Casey, United States Attorney’s Office; and Rev. Paula Owens Parker, Daughters of Zelophehad.

Since 1980, the YWCA has been honoring women with the Outstanding Women Awards. This year marks the 120th anniversary of the YWCA of Richmond and 27 years of recognizing and celebrating the outstanding women of central Virginia.