Physicians spotlighted in national traveling exhibit

GREENVILLE, N.C.  —   Two East Carolina University physicians are spotlighted in a national traveling exhibit on women in health care coming April 29 to Laupus Library.

Five North Carolina “local legends” are profiled in the exhibit. Two are from ECU’s Brody School of Medicine: Dr. Peggy Goodman, associate professor of emergency medicine; and Dr. Lesly Mega, professor of child and adolescent psychiatric medicine.

The local legends project recognizes women physicians from every state who have demonstrated commitment, originality, innovation or creativity in her field of medicine. The American Medical Women’s Association, the National Library of Medicine and the United States Congress united to mark the achievements of America’s women physicians through the project. Two interactive kiosks traveling with the exhibition offer access to the NLM Web site, www.nlm.nih.gov/locallegends.

Goodman, who joined ECU’s faculty in 1992, is an expert in domestic violence. She is active with local, statewide and national domestic violence, public health and medical organizations, and is the only physician serving on the N.C. Domestic Violence Commission. She co-developed a Web-based domestic violence education course through the American Medical Women’s Association used nationally for physicians, residents, medical students and other health care workers.

Mega, who joined the faculty in 1982, is nationally recognized as a leader in the professional development of women physicians and medical students. She founded the local branch of the American Medical Women’s Association, established and chaired the Women in Medicine Committee and helped create the National Center of Excellence in Leadership in Academic Medicine at ECU. She also co-founded the Pitt County Domestic Violence program and served on its board for many years.

The exhibition Web site, www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine, offers educational and professional resources for those considering medicine as a career as well as lesson plans for classroom activities. A section of the Web site called “Share Your Story” allows the public to add stories about women physicians they know.

Laupus Library was one of 61 libraries across the country and one of only two in North Carolina selected to host the exhibit. Titled “Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating American’s Women Physicians,” the exhibit will be open daily during normal hours on the fourth floor of Laupus Library until May 28. The multimedia exhibit features stories from a diverse group of women physicians and highlights the broad range of medicine that women have practiced.

Three public programs in conjunction with the exhibit also will be held in Greenville. “How Gender Changed the History of Medicine” will be held at 7 p.m. April 30 in the ECU School of Nursing, Room 1120, Health Sciences Building. On May 3, “Fearless Females: Women in Forensic Medicine” will be held at 7 p.m. in Sheppard Memorial Library, and on May 22 several local leaders will hold a panel discussion titled “Women in Health Care: Leaders Today and Tomorrow” at 7 p.m. in the Edwin W. Monroe AHEC Conference Center.

The traveling exhibition is made possible by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health. The American Medical Women’s Association provided additional support.

For more information, go to www.ecu.edu/laupuslibrary/events/changingthefaceofmedicine.

Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the Department for Disability Support Services at (252) 328-6799 (V) or (252) 328-0899 (TTY).