Role model for women in science receives award at NECC Summit in Newport

Role model for women in science receives award at NECC Summit in Newport

The 13th annual Northeast Cerebrovascular Consortium (NECC) summit recently honored Dr. Judith Lichtman for her pioneering research on disparities in stroke care.

“I am very honored and humbled to be receiving this award,” said Dr. Judy Lichtman. “There are so many important clinical and research topics being discussed at the NECC Summit,” she said. The NECC Summit was held at the Newport Marriott in Rhode Island on October 25th and October 26th. 

 Dr. Lichtman is the first woman to receive the C. Miller Fisher, MD Neuroscience Visionary Award.

 When asked what inspires her most about attending the NECC Summit, her answer is simple. “I love hearing people’s passion,” said Dr. Lichtman. “When you are surrounded by so many knowledgeable people, whether they are presenting a poster, or a talk or describing a challenge in a clinic, whatever expertise they have, I love hearing the passion in their voice. And it inspires others to ask themselves, how could I contribute, what skills or ideas do I have to help solve challenges related to stroke care.”

 She was also a judge for the second annual Stroke Tank: Pitch It To The Judges event on Friday. Research proposals presented during this session will focus on Transitions of Care across the continuum including EMS, in-hospital processes, interfacility transfers and rehabilitation settings. Based on a panel of expert judges and the audience vote, one proposal will win additional funding to further their research.

 Last year, Dr. Judy Lichtman helped the winning team for Stroke Tank tell their story. “It was a fascinating pitch, this group came up with an algorithm to develop data to route stroke patients directly to care facilities.”

 Judith Lichtman, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor (with tenure) and Chair of the Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. Her research focuses the epidemiology of stroke and heart disease using longitudinal databases and prospective observational studies to understand cardiovascular and stroke outcomes.

 “Dr. Lichtman is a role model for women in science,” said Dr. Pamela Duncan, a professor of neurology at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

 That science has been invaluable in identifying gaps and disparities in care, according to Dr. Duncan. “Her research is critical to inform better quality of stroke care and to improve access to care, especially for women. She is generous in her collaborations with colleagues and a recognized leader of many American Heart Association and American Stroke Association activities.”

 Dr. Lichtman has served on several national committees including the American Heart Association’s Patient Education System Task Force, Stroke and Epidemiology Councils, the Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Expert Panel, and the American College of Cardiology Foundation/AHA Task Force on Clinical Data Standards.

 She has also been the co-chair for two National AHA Writing Committees on depression and heart disease, as well as a coauthor for numerous AHA guidelines and scientific statements.

  “Dr. Lichtman is one of the leaders in conducting analyses of large databases aimed at understanding disparities in stroke care processes, epidemiology and outcomes,” said Dr. Larry B. Goldstein, Co-Director of the Kentucky Neuroscience Institute.   “Her expertise is having a major impact in moving the field forward.”

 

 

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