Page 12 - Women Unlimited | Rochester Medicine | University of Rochester Medical Center

Cover Story: Women, Unlimited

Growing up a member of the working class in the Despite her hesitations, Fowell, who came to the Medical
Midlands, in central England, Deborah Fowell pushed Center in 2000 as a junior faculty member, has worked
up against certain boundaries because of her family’s her way up through promotions to full professor. Her
socioeconomic status. research focuses on mechanisms of immune regulation at
tissue sites of inflammation.
She has found no such hierarchy in her work as an
immunologist. “I’ve come to appreciate how special science is—that,
for the most part, appearance doesn’t influence people’s
“What I find so amazing is that science is a huge leveler,” opinion of you,” she says.
she says. “You’re respected for your intellect, which
really does drive how far you can go. Everything else kind When Fowell has been the only woman in the room, she
of fades away. hasn’t noticed. For example, while reviewing grants with
some 15 other scientists at the National Institutes of
“I can’t say I’ve been discriminated against, or not Health, one of them pointed out—to her surprise—the
gotten to a position I wanted, because of anything gender imbalance at the table.
other than not being the best one for the job,” she adds.
Remembers Fowell: “I’d been so excited about discussing
Fowell believes women could, however, be better at which grants had done well and which hadn’t done well.
self-promotion, a skill that might remove some of the That sort of scientific interchange was so stimulating that
Deborah J. Fowell, hurdles they face in moving into leadership positions. I hadn’t paid any attention to the make-up of the room.”
PhD “We are often not very good at advocating for

Dean’s Professor in the Department ourselves,” she says. “I’ll fight fiercely to advance people Through her own grant from NIH, Fowell organized
a group of scientists from within and outside of the
of Microbiology and Immunology in my lab, and for colleagues in my department, but have
Member of the Center for Vaccine a tough time doing it for myself.” immunology field to adapt and develop cutting-edge
Biology and Immunology imaging techniques that could lead to new approaches
University of Rochester Medical The University of Rochester Medical Center has done in manipulating the immune system and improving
Center a stellar job recognizing this reality, Fowell explains, treatment of infectious diseases.
by developing a helpful program called “Developing That sort of collaboration transcends the subject of
from Within: Exploring and Enhancing Career Choices gender, according to Fowell.
for Mid-Career Women.” The program is for current
or future department or institutional leaders across “It’s more about being smart, being dedicated,
science and medicine disciplines who want to come and thinking creatively,” she says.
together to develop leadership skills.

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