Female representation in medical research has grown significantly, with women comprising more than 55% of medical and life scientists in the U.S. as of 2022. The Ohio State University College of Medicine Department of Surgery is proud to continue growing our roster of remarkable female researchers. Here are the stories of three distinguished scientists making significant strides: Mona El Refaey, PhD; Anahita Jalilvand, MD, PhD; and Kristin Stanford, PhD.
Dr. Mona El Refaey: A Commitment to Innovation
Dr. El Refaey’s journey into science was profoundly influenced by personal experiences.
“I always hated to see anyone sick,” she says.
Her mother’s cancer diagnosis during Dr. El Refaey’s undergraduate years was a pivotal moment that steered her toward medical research. Her fascination with new therapeutic targets and discoveries led her to find both solace and excitement in the lab.
Currently, Dr. El Refaey, who is the assistant professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiac Surgery, is doing her part to help those with cardiac arrhythmias. She was just awarded her first R01 grant to understand and address cardiac arrhythmias regarding a specific regulatory component of the protein phosphatase 2A, known as B56α.
“I’m exploring ways to keep the heart’s system running smoothly, even when it’s challenged by external stressors, like an adrenaline rush that can trigger arrhythmias,” Dr. El Refaey says. “I’m hoping my research will pave the way for new treatments that could target this pathway, offering hope for better management of arrhythmias in the future.
“I want to do what I can as a scientist to help stop people from being sick,” she says. “I’m excited that I have the opportunity to make a real difference in my lab.”
She underscores the significance of female representation in cardiovascular research, noting that many cardiovascular diseases affect men and women differently.
“It's good to have females in the field of science and research because we are always challenged to understand things that impact the mom and the female more.”
Dr. Anahita Jalilvand: Bridging Surgery and Science
This assistant professor of Surgery’s path to becoming a surgeon-scientist was shaped by her love of basic science and strong mentorship. It was her surgical residency at Ohio State that exposed Dr. Jalilvand to a dynamic community of translational scientists, sparking her interest in obesity science.
“I fell in love with basic science when I was given the opportunity to explore research during my surgical training in the Department of Surgery,” she says.
Her mentors, including Dr. Willa Hsueh, director of the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, and Dr. Ginny Bumgardner, associate dean for Physician Scientist Education and Training, played a crucial role in her growth as a translational scientist.
Dr. Jalilvand’s current research is funded through her first K08 grant, investigating how obesity affects the behavior of white blood cells in patients with severe infections after surgery. This is only the second K08 grant ever awarded in the Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Burn. She attributes her success as a surgeon-scientist to the incredible mentors and advocates in her life, including Dr. Hsueh, Dr. Bumgardner, Dr. Jonathan Wisler, Dr. Sabrena Noria and Dr. Daniel Eiferman.
Highlighting her experience of being a female surgeon-scientist, Dr. Jalilvand says that “surgeon-scientists are a rare breed, and female surgeon-scientists are even rarer. It is a long and difficult road to acquire both the technical expertise of your chosen surgical career and the complexity and novelty of scientific exploration. It takes a village to make you successful, and that community has to include strong mentors who are committed to lifting you.”
Dr. Kristin Stanford: A Passion for Exercise Physiology
“I have always been interested in how the human body functions,” Dr. Stanford says when reflecting on why she chose a career in medical science.
Her interest in exercise physiology, particularly from a human performance perspective, led her to explore why some people excel as endurance athletes while others don’t. This curiosity evolved into a compelling desire to investigate how the physiological benefits of exercise could be tailored to mitigate various disease states and enhance overall health.
As a professor of Surgery in the Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Dr. Stanford focuses her research on mechanisms of exercise to improve whole-body metabolic and cardiovascular health. She’s currently funded by two R01s and is the director of the American Heart Association’s Strategic Focus Research Network Center, looking at the role of exercise to prevent the detrimental effects of psychosocial stress on cardiovascular health.
On the significance of female representation in the academic medical science field, Dr. Stanford emphasizes its significance: “It’s incredibly important. I think, even subconsciously, seeing female scientists achieve success serves as a powerful catalyst, inspiring and motivating the next generation of women in science to pursue their own aspirations and break new ground.”
We hope the experiences and contributions of Dr. El Refaey, Dr. Jalilvand, Dr. Stanford and all our female scientists in the Ohio State College of Medicine Department of Surgery inspire the next generation to pursue their passions and make groundbreaking discoveries that will shape the future of health care.