WOEMA Celebrates Women’s History Month

The JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Committee invites you to join WOEMA in celebrating Women's History Month. Through our celebration, we recognize the achievements and contributions made by women throughout American history. Every year, the National Women's History Alliance selects a theme for Women's History Month.

The theme for 2022 is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope". The theme is fitting for women in medicine, especially for women in occupational and environmental medicine!

Women in medicine have made immense contributions to advancing science. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the US in 1849. Dr. Blackwell initiated the movement that helped women gain entry and equality in the field of medicine. Dr. Alice Hamilton pioneered and championed occupational and health safety, improving workplace safety and making the nation's workplaces less dangerous.

We continue to see women physician leaders in OEM paving a path of innovation to promote occupational and environmental health and safety. The history of WOEMA is rich with such women physicians, and it will be exciting to see where the next generations will lead the association.

In celebrating Women's History Month, we salute the scores of women in medicine, science, and technology who have improved workplaces and the lives of workers and improved the course of the future. Closer to home, we also honor the women who have served as Presidents of WOEMA including our current President, Rupali Das, MD, MPH, FACOEM, and thank them for being our mentors and role models.

Past WOEMA Women Presidents:
Bernyce Peplowski, DO, MS, FACOEM
Ellyn McIntosh, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Leslie Israel, DO, MPH, FACOEM
Susan Tierman, MD
Pam Hymel, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Donna Baytop, MD, FACOEM
Jean Chapman, MD
Elizabeth Gresch, MD

Rupali Das, MD, MPH, FACOEM (She/Her)
Chair, JEDI Committee

Erik J. Won, DO, MPH, MBA, FACOEM
JEDI Committee Co-Chair

Alya Khan, MD, MS, FACOEM
Member, JEDI Committee