RBHS Women and Gender Equity Faculty Council (WGEC)
The Rutgers Health Women and Gender Equity Faculty Council (WGEC) engages all faculty, offers opportunities to network across departments and disciplines; serves as an advocacy and mentoring resource; and also provides a supportive, educational, and discussion forum with a focus on addressing the unique challenges that women in biomedicine may face as they navigate academia.
The goals of the WGEC are to:
Support and celebrate excellence in many domains including teaching, research, clinical care, administration, diversity and inclusion, and community service.
Advocate for women in visible initiatives, in faculty recruitment, equity, and career advancement opportunities.
Develop mentoring and retention initiatives.
Create networking and collaborating opportunities.
Offer programs for leadership development, life-work fulfillment, and professional skill development.
Assess and evaluate data that is relevant for gender-related issues
Serve as a conduit for two-way dialogue and disseminate resources as well as relevant information on current trends.
Inaugural Women and Gender Equity Council Members
Melissa Alvarez-Downing, MD FACS, FASCRS
Assistant Professor, Assistant Program Director, Clerkship Director Department of Surgery New Jersey Medical School
Diane Calello, MD
Professor Department of Emergency Medicine New Jersey Medical School Executive and Medical Director New Jersey Poison Information and Education System
Heba Elkassaby, DMD, BDS, MDSc
Assistant Professor, Director of Digital Dentistry Department of Restorative Dentistry School of Dental Medicine
Patricia Fitzgerald-Bocarsly, PhD
Co-chair, Women and Gender Equity Faculty Council Provost – Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark Campus Professor Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine New Jersey Medical School
Ashley Grosso, PhD
Assistant Professor Department of Urban-Global Public Health Rutgers School of Public Health
Wei Huang, D.D.S. Ph.D. M.S.D.
Assistant Professor Department of Orthodontics School of Dental Medicine
Cynthia Koziol-White, PhD
Assistant Professor Department of Pharmacology Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science
Sangeeta Lamba Sangeeta Lamba, MD, MS-HPEd
Co-chair, Women and Gender Equity Faculty Council Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion Professor Department of Emergency Medicine New Jersey Medical School
Carol Lutz, PhD
Associate Dean, Student Affairs School of Graduate Studies Associate Professor Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics New Jersey Medical School
Rachel Meyers, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, FPPA
Clinical Associate Professor Department of Pharmacy Practice & Administration Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
Lori Palfreyman, MS, PA-C
Assistant Professor, Assistant Director of Admissions and Program Assessment Department of Physician Assistant Studies School of Health Professions
Shelby M. Pitts, DNP, RN, WHNP-BC
Assistant Professor, Interim Program Director Entry to Baccalaureate Practice Division School of Nursing
Phoebe Stapleton, PhD, ATC
Assistant Professor Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute
Riva Touger-Decker, PhD, RD, CDN
Professor, Chair, Associate Dean, Global Affairs Department of Clinical and Preventative Nutritional Sciences School of Health Professions
Mafudia A. Suaray, MD MPH FAAFP
Associate Professor Division of Hospital Medicine Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Juana Hutchinson-Colas, MD, MBA
Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences Chief, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery Co-Director, Women’s Health Institute