Throughout Women's History Month, we uplift the stories and contributions of women whose commitment to sustainability enriches our communities and our collective future.
Women's History Month serves as a powerful reminder of the women who are redefining what a sustainable and just future can look like. Guided by this year's theme, Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future, we celebrate the innovators and changemakers designing solutions that strengthen communities, protect the environment and build lasting equity.
Aligned with this theme, Stony Brook Medicine remains committed to addressing healthcare inequities that stem from historical and structural barriers. Women working in medicine and research have long been instrumental in expanding access to care, strengthening patient outcomes and advancing a more just healthcare landscape.
Women in Leadership
Women Who Lead: Voices of Stony Brook Medicine
Carol Gomes - From Lab Tech to CEO: A 40-Year Journey
In the News
- Stony Brook University Hospital CEO Carol Gomes Named 2025 Crain's Notable Leader in Sustainability
- Allison McLarty Honored with Health Care Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award
- Stony Brook Medicine Celebrates Opening of a New Clinical Trials Unit at Commack
- Inaugural Stony Brook Women’s Health Research Conference March 25
- Reinventing Breast Cancer Detection: The Transformative Work of Wei Zhao
- Electric Ladies Podcast with Carol Gomes
Stony Brook Medicine: Women in Senior Leadership
Carol A. Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ
Chief Executive Officer
Stony Brook University Hospital
Carolyn Santora, MS, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Chief of Regulatory Affairs
Colette Brown
Chief Human Resources Officer
Nicole Rossol, MS, CCLS
Chief Patient Experience Officer
Patricia Cooper, JD, RN, CHC
Chief Compliance Officer
Emily Mastaler, MA, MBA
Chief Administrative Officer
Stony Brook Southampton Hospital
A History of Women in Medicine
Recognizing the groundbreaking achievements of some of the women pioneers whose bold ideas and dedication have transformed healthcare
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell
1821-1910
The first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States and helped open the medical profession to women by founding medical institutions and advocating for women's education in healthcare.
Dr. Virginia Apgar
1909-1974
An American anesthesiologist who developed the Apgar Score, a simple and life-saving method to quickly assess the health of newborn babies after birth.
Dr. Gertrude B. Elion
1918-1999
An American biochemist and pharmacologist who helped develop groundbreaking medicines to treat leukemia and other diseases, earning a Nobel Prize for contributions to medical research.
Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig
1898-1986
An American cardiologist known as the founder of pediatric cardiology, whose work led to the development of life-saving treatments for children with congenital heart defects.
Dr. Lucy Hobbs Taylor
1833-1910
The first woman to earn a dental degree in the United States, paving the way for women to enter the field of dentistry.
Dr. Rebecca Crumpler
1831-1865
The first Black American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States and dedicated her career to caring for women and children.
2026 Events
March
04
Meet and Greet with Chanel Lopez, Deputy Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs for the NYS Executive Chamber under Governor Kathy Hochul
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Student Activities Center
UNITI Cultural Center, Stony Brook Union
Join us for a special meet-and-greet with Chanel J. Lopez, Deputy Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs for the NYS Executive Chamber under Governor Kathy Hochul. Lopez is a Dominican Afro-Latina advocate, activist and trailblazer from Spanish Harlem. For over 15 years, she has championed the rights of transgender and TGNC communities while also making her mark as a plus-size model, actress, and celebrated event host. Featured in major documentaries and honored with numerous awards, Lopez now serves as the first transgender woman appointed as NYS Deputy Director of LGBTQ Affairs. Her passion, resilience and leadership continue to inspire communities across New York and beyond.
This event is open to faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Gender Equity March and Resource Fair
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Student Activities Center (SAC) Plaza and Ballroom A
This event will feature a keynote address by Chanel J. Lopez, followed by a Gender Equity March beginning at the SAC Plaza, continuing through the Academic Mall, and returning to the Student Activities Center. Following the march, join us from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in SAC Ballroom A for a resource fair featuring campus departments, student organizations and community partners, along with an interactive activity and an opportunity to win a giveaway item. Attendees can participate in an interactive activity and enter for a chance to win a giveaway item.
March
11
The 20th Annual Women in Medicine & Research Day
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
MART Auditorium (8:00 AM - 11:30 AM; 1:20 PM - 1:30 PM)
Stony Brook University Hospital Pavilion, 4W-0101 (11:30 AM - 1:20 PM)
The 20th Annual Women in Medicine & Science (WIMS) Research Day takes place at the Health Sciences Center on Wednesday, March 11. Organized by the Office of Faculty Affairs at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University and the Group for Women in Medicine and Science, the event was created to raise awareness of the issues that women have continued to face in medical training, healthcare, science and research and to highlight the achievements of women in those fields. In addition to offering opportunities for community building, networking, mentoring and collaboration, the day's prevailing climate supporting various women's movements makes Women in Medicine & Science even more relevant and necessary for Stony Brook's female community.
March
25
Her Impact: Women Driving Change
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Student Activities Center Ballroom B
The Center for Civic Justice is hosting a panel discussion focused on the theme Her Impact: Women Driving Change. Participants will learn meaningful ways that they can get involved to create impactful change in their local and global communities.
Inaugural Stony Brook Women's Health Research Conference
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The MART Building
Join us for a full-day interdisciplinary event spotlighting the groundbreaking research taking place at Stony Brook University to improve healthcare for women. The inaugural conference will feature cutting-edge research from Stony Brook faculty and teams, opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration and a celebration of science, art and community in women's health.
Learn more here.