Affirmative Action
CONGRATULATIONS TO
DR. MARY AITKEN,
A UAMS 2013 PHENOMENAL
WOMAN!
It is with enthusiasm that we recommend Mary Aitken, M.D., M.P.H., for the Phenomenal Woman Award 2013. Dr. Aitken is a Professor of Pediatrics (COM). She is the Section Chief of the Center for Applied Research and Evaluation and Director of the Injury Prevention Center. Dr. Aitken is a passionate researcher in child injury prevention, including motor vehicle injury, care seat safety, ATV safety, and poisoning prevention. She has spoken to the US congress and state legislature. She has served on national child health policy and advocacy committees including an elected position on the Executive Committee of the AAP Section on Injury Prevention. Dr. Aitken receives federal funding to support her research, recently from NIH, NICHD, and NHTSA. She has 54 peer-reviewed publications, 1 book chapter, 21 international and national invited presentations, serves on NIH study sections, and is a reviewer for 7 leading journals in her field.
As a teacher and mentor, Dr. Aitken has had a profound impact in the shaping the careers of faculty members, fellows, residents, medical students, etc. In particular, she has strongly supported women and URM mentees. She has repeatedly been cited as one of the finest examples of mentorship in our institution. She instills a strong desire to advocate for the needs of children (pediatric residents organized an annual golf tournament that raises money for car seat safety awareness). Dr. Aitken has received honors for her endeavors including the Siebert Award for Teambuilding (2012), Educational Excellence Award (2011), Outstanding Woman Faculty of the Year (2010), Excellence in Child Advocacy Award (2009), Cranmer Mentor of the Year Award (2006). She has served as WFDC’s President (2009-2010). It is with sincere gratitude for her clinical, research, and educational excellence and her actions as an outstanding role model of integrity, respect, diversity, teamwork, creativity, and excellence that we recommend Dr. Aitken for the 2013 Phenomenal Woman Award.
Submitted by: Dr. Richard Jacobs, Department of Pediatrics