2009

Na Jin Seo, PhD, Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

There is a lack of knowledge about how women’s motor recovery mechanism
following stroke is different from men’s, and this is a barrier to the development of rehabilitation therapies that are particularly effective for women who are more severely affected by stroke than men. Dr. Seo’s research is focused on determining gender-specific effects of upper limb behavioral interventions that use interhemispheric interactions (occurring between hemispheres of the brain) in persons with stroke. Her long term goal is to help women with stroke increase their ability to perform daily living activities and function independently.

2008

Sandra Hunter, PhD
Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

Dr. Hunter's Presentation

Dr. Hunter will receive the $50,000 Dr. Judith Stitt Woman Faculty Scholar Grant for her research efforts examining the mind-body link for sex differences in stress response and motor performance. Dr. Hunter will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine differences in brain activation between men and women while they are mentally stressed as they perform a motor task. Data from the study will help identify why women are more vulnerable to stress-related disorders, and may be the first step to identifying targeted strategies to improve the stress response of women and minimize impaired motor performance.

2006

Michelle Johnson, MS, PhD
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Dr. Johnson received the award for her work investigating the effects of gender differences on robot-assisted stroke rehabilitation.

2004

Diana Kerwin, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Dr. Kerwin's research is trying to determine if obesity is a predictor of cognitive performance and risk for Alzheimer disease in women.

2002

Dr. Elizabeth Burnside, MD, MPH, MS, Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin Medical School and Chief of Mammography at University Hospital, Madison, WI

Dr. Burnside is investigating the use of MRI to improve the accuracy of mammography readings and to prevent unnecessary surgical biopsies. Using Breast MRI technology is helpful in cases of abnormal mammogram results; however, it is not widely used because of the difficulty interpreting the overwhelming volume of data generated. Dr. Burnside is interested in applying a set of segmentation algorithms to breast MRI technology which will condense the information into distinguishable patterns that are easier for radiologists to read.

2000

Dr. Linda Sabatini, Ph.D., Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee College of Health Sciences, Milwaukee, WI

Dr. Sabatini received the first Dr. Judith Stitt Woman Faculty Scholar Award in 2000 for her research studying the role of environment and genetics on breast cancer. The financial support she received gave her the flexibility to lighten her teaching load and focus her energies on research, grant-writing and mentoring the students who assist her with her research. She says, “I was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure beginning in the fall of 2002, and I am certain that receipt of the [award] contributed significantly to the Divisional Committee’s favorable ruling.”

To learn more about efforts underway at the University of Wisconsin - Madison to promote the participation and advancement of women in science and engineering, please refer to the Women in Science & Engineering Leadership Institute.