This year commemorates twenty years of women physician leadership on the national scene as represented by the American Medical Association (AMA). When the AMA created its first committee in 1979 to identify the needs of the growing number of women in medicine, only about 10 percent of US physicians were females. Now women represent 22 percent of all US physicians. Now 41.5 percent of all medical students are women.
The Virgin Islands should be proud of its history of female physicians and the contributions these women have made to the field of medicine.
When I decided to become a physician, there were no native female physicians. When I graduated from medical school, only 8.4 percent of my class were women.
But when I returned home as the first native female physician, I was pleased to see some women in leadership roles. At that time, Dr. Elena Stevenson was in charge of the Public Health system for St. Croix. Dr. Magda Pendall had a vigorous practice servicing the central and eastern parts of St. Croix. There were several Filipino physicians who were responsible for most of the Pediatric care both in and out of the hospital.
Dr. Donna Christian Green (now Congresswoman Donna Christian Christiansen) returned at about the same time I did. We have held nearly all positions of leadership in the medical associations: secretary, treasurer, vice president, president, and executive secretary/treasurer; and in Government, physician-in-charge of the Ingeborg Nesbitt Clinic, medical director of the hospital, assistant commissioner of health and acting Commissioner.
We have not been unique, for there have been in the recent past Dr. Rizalina Batenga as Medical Director of Juan F. Luis Hospital and presently Dr. Ruth Watson as Medical Director of the Roy L. Schneider Hospital. Dr. Valerie Holder has had the distinction of managing the East End Health Center for over a decade. Dr. Chung Kwon, Dr. Cresencia Dy and Dr. Iluminada Garcia are just a few who served well in the Public Health sector. Dr. Secundina Mercado has helped so many eyes to see again while insuring, through her work in the VI Medical Society and the Board of Medical Examiners, that we have quality physicians. Dr. Elizabeth Barot has been the lifeblood of the St. John community, giving care at times as the only physician on the island.
Dr. Mavis Matthew is presently Assistant Commissioner of Health and was the President of the Medical Society most recently in 1997.
There are many whose contributions I have not mentioned like Dr. Evangelina Poblete, Dr. Francisa Alonso, Dr. Felicidad Endriga, and Dr. Cheryl Wade. And, there is a new young vibrant generation of female physicians such as Dr.Catherine Kean and Dr. Anne Treasure that I have not mentioned.
Our actions speak clearly to our commitment to our community and to keep our commitment where our hearts are with our patients.
In the Virgin Islands, we have played an active role in directing the course of medicine and speaking out on critical issues that affect all Virgin Islands residents and visitors. We have demonstrated leadership in the work place, in the community, and in Government. We are especially proud of our Congresswoman, Dr. Donna Christian Christensen, who is the first female
physician in the House of Representatives.
We ask you to join with us, "Women in Medicine," to celebrate our contributions this month of September.
Henry Ford wrote, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."
Women in medicine have been successful in coming together, keeping together and working together with each other and with our male counterparts. We thank the community for giving us the opportunity to serve.