• AAUW California Business
  • Branch Tools
  • AAUW Fund
  • Projects/Programs
  • Calendar
  • Directory
  • Help?
  • View AAUWCA’s profile on Facebook
  • View aauwca’s profile on Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

AAUW California

Empowering Women in California

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Join Us
  • Support Us
  • Public Policy
  • Tech Trek
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Updates / Women’s History Month – Monica Bertagnnolli, MD

Women’s History Month – Monica Bertagnnolli, MD

March 3, 2018

monica bertagnolliWomen’s History Month generally honors women of the past for their contributions to society and their fights for equality. However, presently there are strong women who are currently achieving amazing feats while breaking through tough barriers.

Therefore, I would like to tell Monica Bertagnolli’s story – her strengths in the sciences and her struggles to achieve recognition and equality in the field of medicine.

Monica was born, raised and educated in Rock Springs, a small town in Wyoming. She excelled in academics and became a Presidential scholar. She was admitted to Princeton University for undergraduate studies at a time when very few women were involved in the sciences. Relentless in her studies, she chose medicine and was admitted to an internship at The University of Utah. She continued to excel in her studies and chose to pursue her oncological surgery residency at Harvard University Medical School.

Dr. Bertagnolli was hired to work as a teaching professor in Harvard’s Medical School at a time when Dr. Lawrence H. Summers was the president of the University. He was dismissed from Harvard when he fatally stated that “women might lack an intrinsic aptitude for math and science”. At that time, Monica was the only woman in her department and the only one that was not promoted to higher positions. Nevertheless, she persisted. Many things changed once Dr. Summers was dismissed for his erroneous statement.

Dr. Bertagnolli is now a Professor of Surgery at Harvard University Medical School, and an Associate Surgeon at Dan Faber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is presently the Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Dana Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center. She is also a member of the Gastrointestinal Cancer and Sarcoma Disease Centers at DF/BWCC, where she collaborates with colleagues in medical oncology, radiation oncology and pathology to treat cancer patients in a tertiary care setting. She has had numerous leadership roles in multi-institutional cancer clinical research.

Monica Bertagnolli has proven that women DO have the intrinsic aptitude for the math and sciences. I admire her greatly but then I have implicit bias…. she is my niece!

Cathy Foxhoven
AAUW CA Leadership Development
AAUW CA Co-President Elect

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • More
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Filed Under: Updates, Women's History Month

Upcoming Events

Sep
4
Thu
2025
3:00 pm Public Policy Peer Group Meetings
Public Policy Peer Group Meetings
Sep 4 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Public Policy Peer Group Meetings @ On Zoom - Email to obtain Zoom Link
Public Policy would like to continue holding our peer group meetings on the first Thursday of the month at 3:00pm Pacific. We plan to hold our peer group kickoff meeting on Sept 4, 2025. After[...]
Sep
8
Mon
2025
6:30 pm Tech Trek Committee Meeting
Tech Trek Committee Meeting
Sep 8 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
The Tech Trek committee will meet the 2nd Monday of each month, on Zoom, from 6;30 – 7:30 pm PST. Zoom Link
Sep
10
Wed
2025
all-day State Leadership Team Touch Base...
State Leadership Team Touch Base...
Sep 10 all-day
 
Sep
17
Wed
2025
5:30 pm AAUW WA Online Branch Program on...
AAUW WA Online Branch Program on...
Sep 17 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Join the AAUW WA Online Branch for an in-depth virtual panel presentation on Title IX.  September 17, 2025, 5:30 pm – 7:00pm PST   Our panel presentation will explore the historical evolution, current landscape, and future implications[...]
Sep
18
Thu
2025
6:00 pm Tech Trek Branch Coordinator Pee...
Tech Trek Branch Coordinator Pee...
Sep 18 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Tech Trek Branch Coordinator Peer Group @ On Zoom
The Tech Trek Committee will host their Tech Trek Branch Coordinator Peer Group meetings on the 3rd Thursday of each month, on Zoom, from 6 – 7 pm. Zoom Link
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML
AAUW California Office
PO BOX 160067
Sacramento, CA 95816-0067

AAUW California. All rights reserved.
Connect with the AAUW California Webteam at
webteam@aauw-ca.org

office@aauw-ca.org
Phone: 916-389-0220

Copyright © 2025 · AAUW CA Child Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...