The second Women in Medicine and Science Leadership Summit (formerly the Women in Healthcare Leadership Summit) was held in late October in the MART Auditorium. The Summit's creator, Stony Brook Medicine surgeon, Aleksandra Krajewski, MD, (Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of the SBUH Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program) along with the Stony Brook chapter of Women in Medicine and Sciences (WIMS), hosted the event, which had a theme of "Empowering, Innovating and Connecting."
"When women come together to share their experiences, we elevate one another." - Judi Brown Clarke, PhD
“The Women in Medicine & Science Leadership Summit was a powerful reminder that leadership is not defined by titles but by impact and intention," said Judi Brown Clarke, PhD (Vice President for Equity & Inclusion and Chief Health Equity Officer). "When women come together to share their experiences, we elevate one another and raise the standard for the entire field — turning every challenge into a lesson and every success into a stepping-stone for those who follow.”
After Dr. Krajewski's introduction and a welcome message from Stella Tsirka, PhD (SUNY Distinguished Professor, Pharmacological Sciences; Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs), Clarke made a surprise appearance to say a few words before Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ (Chief Executive Officer Stony Brook University Hospital) touched on her extensive experience and expertise to present a keynote address, which discussed her leadership style and how it helps to create successful, supportive work environments.
"It is important for women leaders to serve as mentors and pay it forward." - Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ
“We must continue to empower women leaders, advocate for women’s leadership and help shape the future to ensure inclusive decision-making," said Gomes. "It is important for women leaders to serve as mentors and pay it forward. Follow your dreams, help others pursue their dreams and continue to inspire others.”
Following a brief question and answer (Q&A) session, the presentations segment of the summit began with a series of insightful, thought-provoking talks. These included "BOSS Leadership Beyond Titles" delivered by Patricia Cooper, JD, RN, CHC (Stony Brook University Chief Compliance Officer); "Mentorship and Sponsorship" by Allyson Silver (AVP Operations, Surgical Services); "Leading with Authenticity: Embracing Your Unique Leadership Style" by Carolyn Santora (Chief of Regulatory Affairs); and "Leading with Influence: Communicating Vision in a Complex System" by Emily Mastaler (Chief Administrative Officer, SB Southampton Hospital).
"We don't need to be a boss to be a leader, but you do need to have BOSS leadership," said Cooper. "We need to (B)uild others, (O)wn our personal journeys, (S)tand with courage and (S)olidify our intentions."
"We need to (B)uild others, (O)wn our personal journeys, (S)tand with courage and (S)olidify our intentions." - Patricia Cooper, JD, RN, CHC
After a Q&A session with the presenters concluded, and following a short break, the event moved on to the panel discussions segment, which was moderated by Dr. Krajewski and Rebecca Spiegel, MD (Clinical Professor of Neurology). These included:
"The Leadership Lab - Cultivating Skills through Faculty Development" - Tara Catanzano, MD (Section Chief - Department of Radiology), Cathryn Galanter, MD (Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Division Director - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry), Sritha Rajupet, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACPM, FAMIA (Professor - Family, Population & Prevention Medicine - Biomedical Informatics; Chair, Family, Population & Preventive Medicine), and Tsirka
“Faculty development is most powerful when it helps women translate their expertise into influence," said Dr. Rajupet. "Leadership isn’t about adding more to our plates — it’s about amplifying our impact with clarity, strategy and purpose.”
"Leadership isn’t about adding more to our plates — it’s about amplifying our impact with clarity, strategy and purpose.” - Sritha Rajupet, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACPM, FAMIA
"The Leadership Journey - from Trainee to Healthcare Leader" - Olga Aroniadis, MD, MSc, FACG (Svetlana Koroleva Endowed Professor in Gastroenterology, Professor of Medicine and Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology), Agnieszka Bialkowska, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of Medicine), Susan Hedayati, MD, MHSc (Vice Dean for Research, Professor of Medicine with Tenure, Lina Obeid Chair in Biomedical Research), and Lisa Strano-Paul, MD (Clinical Professor of Medicine, Associate Dean - Renaissance School of Medicine)
Dr. Aroniadis offered this advice to young women leaders: "Challenging moments test your resilience and create opportunities for growth," she said. "Stay grounded, rise under pressure, and let your journey lead your team forward."
"Challenging moments test your resilience and create opportunities for growth." - Olga Aroniadis, MD, MSc, FACG
"Leading for Equity - Women, Diversity, and System Change" - Susan Lane, MD, MACP (Professor of Medicine, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs), Sharon Nachman, MD (Distinguished Professor, Knapp Endowed Chair Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Associate Dean for Research), Deborah Nagle, MD, FACS (Professor of Surgery, Chief, Colon and Rectal Division), and Jessica Seeliger, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacological Sciences)
The consensus shared by the event's speakers and panelists was that the Women in Medicine and Science Leadership Summit provided a valuable opportunity to inform, inspire and lift up the next generation of women healthcare leaders. "It was exciting to hear others in leadership positions talk about their pathway and how unique each journey was and how each dealt with challenges along the way," said Dr. Nachman. Dr. Aroniadis agreed, “The Women’s Leadership Summit was truly uplifting — hearing so many women leaders share their stories of growth, resilience, and purpose reminded me how powerful it is when we learn from one another. Every story was a spark, and together they created a room full of inspiration and possibility,” she said. And Dr. Rajupet observed that “The summit highlighted that leadership growth isn’t only about skill-building — it’s about cultivating cultures of trust and respect. When we model psychological safety and moral courage, we make it possible for the next generation of women in medicine to step forward and lead with confidence.”
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