On behalf of the Steering Committee of the Northwestern Medical Women Faculty Organization (WFO), we welcome you to the WFO Web Site. This Committee was established 19 years ago under the auspices of the Medical School Dean’s Office. WFO was first chaired by Carolyn Brent, MD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, who led the effort to review issues of particular interest to women faculty in the Feinberg School of Medicine, including professional development, support systems and salary equity. Today, our Committee is continuing to promote the academic development of women faculty and promote efforts throughout Northwestern to nurture a community rich in diversity. The Committee is composed of representatives from basic research, clinical and private practice and affiliated hospitals. We also have medical student representatives from the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) and a representatives from Northwestern’s Institute for Women’s Health Research and Women's Center. Throughout the year, the WFO hosts and participates in multiple activities which promote women’s professional achievement, mentoring and networking. In the fall, the WFO hosts a Fall Welcome Reception for new women faculty. Each Spring the WFO participates in the Annual Lewis Landsberg Research Day by awarding a winner of the WFO’s Women’s Health Award for the poster and abstract representing excellence in women’s health research from Northwestern. We continue to support projects and activities organized by our younger colleagues in the NU Feinberg School of Medicine's (NUFSM) branch of AMWA. Each year, we sponsor a NUFSM student’s travel and attendance at the AMWA national convention. In addition we host events that enable medical students to interact with female faculty mentors. WFO also sponsors the Distinguished Women in Medicine and Science lecture. This annual lecture, honoring Carolyn Brent, MD, the first chairwoman of the WFO, highlights the career of a successful woman, scientist, leader and mentor. Finally, the annual WFO’s Children’s Memorial Hospital Lecture and Reception is held in late spring at Children's Memorial Hospital and simul-cast to Northwestern's Chicago campus. This event connects our faculty and staff at the Children's Hospital in Lincoln Park with the downtown Northwestern campus and focuses on a current topic of women's health. We hope to see you at our annual events and welcome your participation in the WFO. For more information about our organization, please contact wfo@northwestern.edu Sincerely, Joy Derwenskus, DO and Kenzie Cameron, PhD/ MPH WFO Co-chairs | 
