Leading Women in Engineering & Science: Making their Mark in Medical History

Sherrie Trigg, Editor/Director of Medical Content for MDB

While women are still underrepresented in STEM fields, including the medical device industry, those who have chosen science and engineering as a profession are making a huge impact. The women in this industry are passionate about bringing solutions to the market that improve patient outcomes and transform patient’s lives. They have broken through barriers to go on to develop transformational devices, fight diseases, and create revolutionary materials. This feature presents insights from a handful of these women, including industry leaders, inventors, entrepreneurs, and those inspiring other women through education.

WOMEN IN SCIENCE – THE FACTS

According to UIS data, less than 30 percent of the world’s researchers are women. While worldwide figures of women students and graduates in higher education have grown steadily in the last decade, women are still a minority in STEM fields, both in numbers of graduates (especially at the PhD level), and in the research profession. Source: UNESCO

Leading Women Scientists in American History

Ida Bengtson (1881-1952) – first woman to be employed as a scientist at the Public Health Service’s Hygienic Laboratory

Alice Catherine Evans (1881-1975) – U.S. Hygienic Lab, worked on team to improve the serum treatment for epidemic meningitis Sara Branham Matthews (1888-1962) – credited with the discovery and isolation of the virus that causes spinal meningitis

Margaret Pittman (1901-1995) – NIH, recognized for her work on an improved and standardized pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine

Source: HHS.gov

The Future for Women in STEM

The women highlighted here represent the progress being made by women across the medical industry. They and others like them are inspiring women who follow in their footsteps while contributing to improving healthcare and patients’ lives through their dedication to the design and development of medical technology. They have gone against stereotypes, gender bias, and other barriers that could have stopped them from choosing science and engineering as their careers.

Interviews:

Profiles:

This article was written by Sherrie Trigg, Editor/Director of Medical Content for MDB. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..