Drexel University College of Medicine's Institute for Women's Health and Leadership is pleased to announce that its 2013 Woman One honoree will be 6ABC anchor Lisa Thomas-Laury.
The Woman One program recognizes outstanding women leaders in the Philadelphia community and raises scholarship funds for talented minority women medical students at Drexel University College of Medicine.
A versatile news journalist, Thomas-Laury will be honored on April 29, 2013 at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia as the 11th annual Woman One recipient.
"Lisa is an inspiration for her professional achievements and her personal courage," said Lynn Yeakel, Director of the Institute for Women's Health and Leadership. "For more than three decades, she has been a trusted news source and an example of community leadership."
A graduate of Marshall University, Thomas-Laury joined 6ABC in 1978, as noon co-anchor and reporter. In 1983, she became co-anchor of the 5:00 PM weekday newscast. During the 1980's and 90's, she hosted 6ABC's award-winning monthly Public Affairs program, "Fast Forward," and its "Children First" series. Thomas-Laury has covered several political elections as well as the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia in 2000.
She left WPVI in 2003 after being diagnosed with POEMS syndrome, a rare nerve disorder. After undergoing a bone marrow transplant, she returned to 6ABC as a reporter and anchor in 2006.
In 2004 she received the "Braveheart Award" from the local chapter of the NAACP for her dedication to her work and community. She is currently an honorary chairperson for Maternity Care Coalition, an organization that supports mothers in need throughout the Delaware Valley. She was awarded Philadelphia's Liberty Bell Award from the Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities in 2008.
"Because the Woman One Award provides scholarships for minority women medical students, I am especially honored to receive this honor," said Thomas-Laury. "I congratulate the Woman One Scholars who have benefitted from this program."
In 10 years, the Woman One program has raised more than $2.5 million, including over $500,000 in 2012, and has supported scholarships for 22 Scholars. Each of the four 2012 Scholars receive $80,000 in tuition support over four years.
Past Woman One Award recipients include Estelle Richman ('03); Leslie Anne Miller ('04); Dawn Staley ('05); Suzanne Roberts ('06); Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, ('07); Stephanie Naidoff ('08); Jane Pepper ('09); Eliana Papadakis ('10); Sara Manzano-Díaz ('11); and Dianne Semingson ('12).
For more information or to attend the event, contact the Institute for Women's Health and Leadership at iwhl@drexelmed.edu or 215.991.8190.
About Drexel University College of Medicine's Institute for Women's Health and Leadership®
One of the original six programs to be designated a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Drexel University College of Medicine's Institute for Women's Health and Leadership helps carry out the College's commitment to women's health and women's leadership in medicine and service. Its core initiatives include: the International Center for Executive Leadership in Academics, with its acclaimed Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women; the Legacy Center, which preserves and protects the largest collection of archival material on the history of women in medicine, much of which comes from one of the College's predecessor institutions; the Woman One Award and Scholarship Fund; and Vision 2020, a national initiative to achieve women's economic and social equality. Learn more about Woman One. For more information, please visit www.drexel.edu/medicine/iwhl.