Inova Health System, Fairfax County Public Library Bring National Exhibit Highlighting Women in Medicine to Northern Virginia

‘Changing Face of Medicine’ Features Life Stories of Women Physicians; Inova to Hold Special Evening Reception to Honor Women Physicians

Falls Church, VA – (October 10, 2010) – Inova Health System and Fairfax County Public Library are proud to invite the public to a traveling exhibit, “Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians,” which documents the lives and achievements of women in medicine.

WHAT:
Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians

WHEN:
Now through Nov. 15, 2010

WHERE:
Inova Fairfax Hospital, Atrium
3300 Gallows Road
Falls Church, VA

The exhibit tells the remarkable story of how women from diverse backgrounds struggled for the right to study in medical schools and to practice medicine in the U.S. It begins with Elizabeth Blackwell, who in 1849 became the first woman to earn an M.D. degree in America, and shows how women today are represented in every area of medicine.

Interactive kiosks provide educational activities, information about medical careers and biographies of outstanding women physicians. Individuals may also add names and stories of their own favorite women physicians to the web site.

Members of the media are invited to a special dinner reception on Tuesday, Oct. 19, featuring keynote speeches by two highly renowned women physicians who have impacted the field of medicine:

Karen Rheuban, MD, who is featured in the exhibit, is Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the Office of Telemedicine at the University of Virginia. Dr. Rheuban is recognized for her work using telemedicine to improve healthcare in rural communities.

Ruth Jakoby, MD, became the first woman to be a certified neurosurgeon in 1961. She practiced neurosurgery for 16 years in the Washington, DC, area and served as Associate Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at George Washington University. In 1986, Dr. Jakoby marked another milestone by becoming the first female neurosurgeon to also become a lawyer.

The dinner reception will begin at 6 p.m. at the Physician’s Conference Center at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

The National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Md., and the American Library Association, Chicago, Ill., organized the exhibition with support from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health and the American Medical Women’s Association.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.