Thursday, November 6, 2025
4:00PM-5:00PM
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The New York Academy of Medicine is proud to partner with The Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation to present the Alma Dea Morani Renaissance Woman Award to Joycelyn Elders, MD, a pioneering physician and advocate for public health and equity |
Dr. Elders is renowned for breaking barriers and sparking essential conversations throughout her remarkable career. Appointed in 1993 as the 15th Surgeon General of the United States, the first African American and only the second woman to hold that office, Dr. Elders brought unprecedented visibility to issues ranging from adolescent health and reproductive rights to substance use prevention and health education. TIME magazine named her “1994 Woman of the Year” and “One of the 100 Most Influential Women of the 20th Century.”
Join us as we celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of Dr. Joycelyn Elders—physician, researcher, teacher, and champion for the dignity and health of all people.
About the Award
The Alma Dea Morani, MD Renaissance Woman Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation, recognizes an outstanding contemporary pioneer in the medical sciences. It was named for Alma Dea Morani, MD, the first woman admitted to the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and an advocate for humanism in medicine. Recipients demonstrate professional excellence, a thirst for knowledge, and service beyond their medical practice or scientific endeavors. Learn more about the award.
About the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation
The Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation was founded with the strong belief that understanding our history plays a powerful role in shaping our future. The resolute stand women took to establish their place in these fields propels our vision forward. We serve as stewards to the stories from the past and take pride in sharing them with the women of today. Our mission is to preserve and promote the history of women in medicine and the medical sciences, and we look forward to connecting you to our collective legacy that will empower our future. Learn more at https://www.wimlf.org/.
Honoree
Joycelyn Edlers, MD
About Joycelyn Edlers, MD
Born in rural, segregated Arkansas in 1933, Dr. Elders rose from a childhood marked by poverty and discrimination to become the state’s first board-certified pediatric endocrinologist. She attended the University of Arkansas Medical School as one of three Black students. Over the course of decades of clinical practice and research, she has published over a hundred papers, many of which focus on juvenile diabetes and sexual health. As Arkansas’ Director of Public Health, she championed childhood immunizations, prenatal care, sex education, and access to family planning services, nearly doubling immunization rates and expanding care to underserved populations. As U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Elders famously refused to shy away from controversy if it meant addressing uncomfortable but vital truths. Her tenure was defined by fearless advocacy for comprehensive sex education, access to contraception, and HIV prevention, efforts that provoked fierce debate but ultimately shifted the national conversation. After leaving office, she continued to educate, mentor, and speak out for health equity as a Professor Emerita at the University of Arkansas. Her extraordinary story is also the subject of a recent, award-winning documentary film, The Healer: The Dr. Joceyln Elders Story, which highlights her journey from a cotton field in Arkansas to one of America’s most influential public health leaders, ensuring that her example continues to inspire future generations.