Stephanie Harman, MD, is a palliative care physician, Clinical Professor of Medicine, and Associate Chair for Faculty Engagement and Leadership Development for the Department of Medicine
As we embark on Women in Medicine Month 2025, I am excited to celebrate extraordinary women who have shaped medicine and our department. WIM Month was started by the American Medical Association. Their contributions, both historical and contemporary, continue to inspire us and drive our mission forward.
We have quite a history here at Stanford and in California for women in medicine. We recognize trailblazers Adelaide Brown who received her MD from Cooper Medical College (which became Stanford School of Medicine) in 1892 and became a pioneer in public health, working to establish the first Bureau of Child Hygiene and advocating for commercial milk safety as well as maternal health. She honored those who had come before her and wrote a history of the development of Women in Medicine in California, including her own mother Charlotte Blake Brown, one of the first California women physicians. Of Stanford renown, Dr. Adelaide Brown also co-founded the Stanford Medicine Alumni Association, of which many of us are members to this day.
Today, we carry forward this legacy through the remarkable women in our department—faculty, trainees and learners, and staff who are advancing education, research, clinical care–who exemplify leadership and dedication. Their insights and efforts are instrumental in advancing bioscience and healthcare, making a lasting impact on our community and beyond.
Throughout this month, we will spotlight the achievements of women in department. Join us and engage with our social media features, articles, and events that celebrate their stories and contributions. Together, let’s foster an environment of support and empowerment that uplifts our community.
A few highlights
September 3: Our annual Women in Medicine photo! 12pm-12:30pm PT on Clark Center courtyard stairs; 4pm-4:20pm PT via Zoom
September 17: Medicine Grand Rounds with Sumbul Ahmad Desai, MD in Li Ka Shing Center’s Berg Hall
September 25: Hispanic Heritage Month Panel, 12pm -1pm
September (Details TBA): Community Poetry Project with Diana Farid, author and DoM faculty
