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Defense Department Announces Winners of Female Military Doctors Top Award

  • Published
  • By Sandra Abrams
  • Health.mil
FALLS CHURCH, Va., --  The Defense Department's Military Health System has announced the winners of the Female Military Physician Leader Award. Honored for their contributions to military medicine and for their work mentoring others, these doctors inspire young women working in the fields of medicine and science.

The top award went to Army Col. (Dr.) Karen O'Brien, deputy commander for clinical services at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Fort Lewis, Wash. She serves as chief medical officer at the base. Being recognized in this way is particularly meaningful, O'Brien said, because of who the judges are.

"It is very humbling. ... Selection is by a panel of other successful female physicians," she said, which makes this award "very special to me."

O'Brien, who is deploying for the first time to Afghanistan at the end of September, went to medical school at the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. The mother of three children whose husband serves in the Army, is very aware of the critical role that mentors play. She said she helps connect young women with women who can mentor them.

"I did not have a lot of female mentors growing up." O'Brien said. "You need people to help you think of things that are outside your comfort zone. Sometimes you just need people to say ... 'Have you thought about doing this because this would be a good job for your talent and skill set.'"

Other honorees included: Air Force junior winner, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Pamela M. Williams; Navy junior winner, Cmdr. (Dr.) Kimberly Davis; Army junior winner, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Bonnie Hartstein.

Started in 2010 by the Department of Defense to help recognize and celebrate female military doctors, the award is open to female military physicians in all service branches. It is administered by the Military Health System's Chief Human Capital Office. The American Medical Association has named September Women in Medicine Month.