Suffolk Reporter

Students interested in healthcare gathered at Stony Brook University on October 17 for the Women in Healthcare Panel. The event featured fifteen professionals from Stony Brook Medicine, who shared insights into their careers in fields such as social work, clinical pharmacy, nursing, and neurosurgery.

The panel was organized by Dr. Robert Nocito and Dr. Jillian Leibowitz, with support from the Pathways to Healthcare Program and the Stony Brook University Career Center. The Pathways program is designed for underrepresented students exploring healthcare careers.

Dr. Nocito opened the event with remarks on the history of the Pathways program. Dr. Leibowitz moderated the discussion, which covered topics like gender bias, workplace challenges, and diversity in medicine.

Panelists shared personal stories about their journeys into medicine. Ana Maria Lopez spoke about her joy in helping Spanish-speaking patients, while Priyanka Ramchandra recounted her transition from film to medicine after teaching in underserved districts.

The speakers encouraged students to seek mentors who can support their goals regardless of gender or race. Chinenya Okudoh emphasized confidence and self-advocacy: “One of the things that helped me succeed was realizing that even if you don’t look like everyone else, you can still achieve great things.”

Sophomore Shanell Rollon expressed newfound motivation after attending the panel: “From practical insights on medical school applications to inspiration gained from remarkable women in healthcare, I’m more motivated than ever to follow this path.”

Dr. Nocito highlighted the importance of diverse voices in shaping future healthcare leaders: “Empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders begins with fostering meaningful connections and sharing knowledge.”

The event coordinators thanked all panelists for their participation.