Amy O’Brien-Ladner MD Innovation Award

History

The Amy O'Brien-Ladner Innovation Award was named to honor Amy's innovation in beginning and serving as the first KUMC Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) President in 2002, and securing the endowed Joy McCann Professorship during her tenure.  These two acts set in motion a structure which would impact a positive cultural change for years to come regarding career development for professional women on our campus. This distinguished award is sponsored by the Joy McCann Professorship for Women in Medicine & Science.

KU Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) was formally organized within the School of Medicine in 2002 to provide women physicians with the tools and the opportunity to succeed in academic medicine.  During the WIMS "founding years," 1999-2002, the founding president, Amy O'Brian-Ladner, MD put forth effort to create and establish the organization while she served as the American Medical Women's' Association (AMWA) faculty advisor. Dr. O'Brien-Ladner assumed the role of WIM president in 2002, ending her term in 2004.  Simultaneously, during her term as president, Dr. O'Brien-Ladner also served as a member of the AAMC Women's Leadership Organization (WLO). In 2002, Dr. O'Brien-Ladner entitled the organization Women in Medicine (WIM) which was aimed solely at supporting women physicians in the School of Medicine.  The name was later changed to WIMS, adding the "S" for science to include women faculty colleagues in the basic sciences.

In addition to founding what today is called WIMS, Dr. Ladner was instrumental in acquiring the endowed gift for the Joy McCann Professorship for Women in Medicine and Science, given December 12, 2002, from the Joy McCann Foundation. Today, there are only four professorships in the United States. Dr. O'Brien-Ladner gave two national presentations regarding the acquisition of the McCann endowment:

1. Surviving and Thriving During Change Presented at the Women in Medicine Regional Leadership Conference: Successful Strategies for Women in Academic Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee, September 2003.
2. Providing Faculty Development Programs on a Shoe String.  Presented at the Association of American Medical Colleges Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, November 2003.

Amy O'Brien-Ladner, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine who currently serves as their Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine Director and Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine. She is an active mentor and role model for men and women and was also instrumental in helping to create her department's faculty mentoring program. In addition to her many accomplishments, Dr. O'Brien-Ladner places a high value on family life and believes women can achieve great things without sacrificing their personal or family life.

More details of Dr. O'Brien-Ladner's career are available on at http://www2.kumc.edu/internalmedicine/obrien-ladner.html

At the WIMS Annual Dinner on August 16, 2012, Dr. O'Brien-Ladner was presented with a crystal bowl to commemorate the award in her honor. Dr. Susan Pingleton made the presentation. The inscription reads, "The Amy O'Brien-Ladner, MD Award for Innovation was established in 2012 by the Joy McCann Professorship to honor and recognize Dr. Lander's extraordinary innovation that has positively change our culture."

Purpose

To acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments of women faculty and staff members in the KU School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and the School of Health Professions have made which have influence a positive cultural change regarding the careers of women faculty and/or staff members on the KUMC campus. The Joy McCann Professorship for Women in Medicine and Science honors Dr. Ladner each year at the annual WIMS dinner, by presenting this award to deserving women who demonstrate Dr. Ladner's initiative to influence change. The award was established August 16, 2012.

Eligibility

Female faculty or staff members in the KU School of Medicine, School of Nursing, or School of Health Professions

Criteria

• Professional excellence in the individuals career
• Recognized as a KUMC leader at the KUMC campus, university and/or national level
• Involvement in WIMS programs and initiatives         

Mechanism

• One award presented per year
• Amount: $2,500 (for personal use and/or professional development)
• Award sponsor: KU Joy McCann Professorship for Women in Medicine and Science

Nomination process

Self-nomination, nomination by KUMC colleague or selection by the current KU Joy McCann Professor for Women in Medicine and Science

• Submission of candidate nomination package in a single pdf document via e-mail to: Alana Smith, asmith22@kumc.edu, McCann Support Office, Mailstop 1068
• Letter from the nominator stating why the candidate is deserving; specifically addressing the criteria listed above, 2 pages maximum.
• 3 letters of reference; specifically addressing applicable criteria listed above
• Candidate's updated full-length CV or resume

Evaluation process

• The current Joy McCann Professor will review the nomination materials and will rank candidates
• The current Joy McCann Professor will report rankings to the WIMS Executive Committee for final approval.
• All candidates will be notified of the decision prior to the annual WIMS fall dinner, when the award is presented.

Award presentation

The award winner will be guest at the annual WIMS fall dinner to receive their award.

Award Recipients