Twenty-fifth annual Women’s Faculty Awards honor exceptional women in science

UMass Chan Medical School colleagues cheered on the seven faculty members recognized for outstanding achievements in early career development, clinical service, mentoring, education, health equity and community service during the 25th annual Women’s Faculty Awards held on May 22 in the Albert Sherman Center. 

“You come from different schools and areas of distinction, and are being honored for different contributions, but what you have in common is that you approach your primary role with a mindset of partnership and a commitment of service to our learners, our mission as an academic health center and the broader community,” said Mary Ellen Lane, PhD, the Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Biomedical Sciences, professor of neurobiology and dean of the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, in her opening remarks. 

This year’s awards were sponsored by an anonymous donor, with 25 nominations submitted to the Office of Faculty Affairs.  

Anne Mosenthal, MD, professor of surgery at UMass Chan-Lahey, chief academic officer of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and regional executive dean of UMass Chan-Lahey, discussed the challenges she faced in her career as a self-proclaimed “short, left-handed woman in surgery” in her keynote address, sharing that during her residency at UMass Chan, there was only one woman surgeon on faculty. 

“Find your voice, honor your legacy, remember that making decisions out of courage instead of fear will be hard, find your home at an institution where you can be yourself and develop the next generation to make a difference,” Dr. Mosenthal advised. 

Mary Ahn, MD, vice provost for faculty affairs and professor of psychiatry & behavioral sciences, shared statistics that show UMass Chan is surpassing national benchmarks reported by the Association of American Medical Colleges in 2024. The percentage of women employed as instructors (67 percent), full professors (34 percent), associate professors (46 percent) and assistant professors (55 percent) at UMass Chan exceeds the national average in all categories. Dr. Ahn said that 52 percent of vice, associate and assistant chancellor roles at UMass Chan are held by women. 

“We certainly have made a lot of strides at UMass Chan. This path to gender equity is gaining traction,” Dr. Ahn said. 

“It’s an interesting time to have an event about gender equity. We’re under fire for all forms of equity and what it can be with changes in funding,” said Terence R. Flotte, MD, the Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor, executive deputy chancellor, provost and dean of the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, in his closing remarks. “Some of it can be discouraging, but I encourage you to continue your efforts in each of your individual areas as educators, researchers, those taking care of patients, those in in leadership development and central leadership. I want to encourage you to continue this effort to bring true equity to what we’re doing, for the benefit of those we serve.” 

The 2025 award recipients are: