Women's Leadership Initiative

Congratulations to Barbara Piclet-Legre, MD, recipient of the 2021 Career Impact Award, and Andrea N. Veljkovic, MD, MPH, recipient of the 2021 Career Development Award!

The Women's Leadership Initiative supports and encourages women in foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery. As part of the initiative, the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation established the Women's Leadership Awards, recognizing outstanding female leaders in foot and ankle orthopaedics. Two awards are presented:

The Career Impact Award, recognizing women who have made exceptional contributions to the field of orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery
The Career Development Award, supporting the professional aspirations of early- and mid-career female foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons

If You Can See It, You Can Be It

Women in orthopaedics share how their mentors, family, and role models inspired and supported their careers.

Thank you to Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. for their support of this video.

Photo Gallery

Three generations of women in medicine: Stephanie Boden, MD (second from left) with her grandmother, mother, and 3 sisters, all physicians

Lauren Geaney, MD, with residents Anna Jorgensen, MD, and Jamie Friedman, MD

Lauren Geaney, MD, and mentor Gus Mazzocca, MD

Casey Humbyrd, MD, with her father, an orthopaedic surgeon

Daughter of Casey Humbyrd, MD, nailing a femur at Perry Initiative event

Pamela Luk, MD (second from left) with mentors Jeffrey Johnson, MD, Sandra Klein, MD, and Jeremy McCormick, MD

Holly Johnson, MD, and Becky Cerrato, MD, operating in China

Sara Lyn Miniaci-Coxhead, MD, teaching her daughter to suture

Lauren Boden, MD, Wen Chao, MD, and Liane Miller, MD

Elizabeth Cody, MD, with Scott Ellis, MD, Mathias Bostrom, MD, and Todd Albert, MD

Naudereh Noori, MD, with David Thordarson, MD

Lorena Bejarano-Pineda, MD, with Christopher DiGiovanni, MD

Katherine Gavin, MD, with mentor Rich Miller, MD

Judy Baumhauer, MD, as distinguished visiting professor at HSS with Jensen Henry, MD, Bopha Chrea, MD, and Megan Reilly, MD

2020 Award Recipients

Career Impact Award
Naomi N. Shields, MD

Naomi N. Shields, MD, of San Antonio, Texas, is a highly regarded orthopaedic surgeon and humanitarian. Dr. Shields served in the military as a general medical officer at Rhein Main AFB in Germany. Upon her return, she was the first woman in the orthopaedic surgery residency program at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in Texas and went on to complete a foot and ankle orthopaedic fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Shields is a role model in the orthopaedic community and continues to give back by participating in the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation's Overseas Outreach Project to Vietnam almost every year. In addition, she served as president of the Foundation, a member-at-large on both the AOFAS and AAOS Boards of Directors, and a member of several committees.

Career Development Award
Laura K. Dawson, DO

Laura K. Dawson, DO, exemplifies dedication, leadership, and strength. Dr. Dawson completed her orthopaedic surgery residency at Texas Tech University Health Service Center and a foot and ankle orthopaedic fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Currently, she serves as the United States Corps of Cadets Senior Medical Officer and an orthopaedic surgeon at Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point, New York. Prior to her career in the medical field, Dr. Dawson had more than 15 years of experience in the military and received five awards for exemplary service. In addition to serving on the AOFAS Research Committee, she is a member of the AAOS Limb Salvage Clinical Practice Guideline Team, the AOA Emerging Leaders Program, and the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The Women's Leadership Initiative is funded through individual and corporate gifts to the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation.

Give to the Women's Leadership Initiative

Women's Leadership Tribute Gifts

Thank you to the following individuals and companies for their contributions to the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation to support the Women's Leadership Initiative since it began in 2017 (updated March 31, 2021).

Stephanie P. Adam, DO
Su-Young Bae, MD, PhD
Judith F. Baumhauer, MD, MPH
Laura M. Bruse, MD
John T. Campbell, MD
Rebecca A. Cerrato, MD
Stephanie Chen, NP
Loretta B. Chou, MD
Natalie R. Danna, MD
Laura K. Dawson, DO
Lisa T. DeGnore, MD
Jessica Dornfeld
Patrick B. Ebeling, MD
Sandra A. Eisele, MD, MBA
Scott J. Ellis, MD
Shelly Encher
Emily L. Exten, MD
Alena Frey, CMP
Katherine Gavin, MD
Lauren E. Geaney, MD
Emily C. Harnden, MD
Jeannie Huh, MD
Casey J. Humbyrd, MD
In2Bones LLC
Susan N. Ishikawa, MD
Gillian E. Jackson, MBChB

A. Holly Johnson, MD
Julie M. Johnson, MD
Harold B. Kitaoka, MD
Melissa D. Koenig, MD
Thomas H. Lee, MD
Elaine M. Leighton, MPH, CAE
Margaret J. Lobo, MD
Pamela C. Luk, MD
Peter G. Mangone, MD
Elizabeth D. Martin, MD
Medartis
Sara Lyn Miniaci-Coxhead, MD
Julie A. Neumann, MD
Hazel Oreluk, MA
Alexandra E. Page, MD
Christie Petrucci
Jon Simon
Syndie B. Singer, MD
Kelly C. Stéfani, MD, PhD
Krista Stewart
Raymond J. Sullivan, MD
M. Chris Testerman, MD
Ruth L. Thomas, MD
J. Turner Vosseller, MD
James D. Walwark
Kathryn L. Williams, MD
Wright Medical Group N.V.

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