February 3 is annually celebrated in the United States as a day of recognition for women in medicine. Known as National Women Physicians Day, this acknowledgment of the achievements of women in the medical field is held on the birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States.
To honor this day, the Women in Medicine Committee through NASPGHAN would like to highlight some impactful women in pediatric GI.
Clinician – Diana G Lerner, MD
- Current position and institution: Associate Professor, Director of Advanced Endoscopy, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Favorite GI disease: Esophageal Atresia and Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Hobbies: hiking, karaoke,
- Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii
- Book you recommend: Crucial Conversations, Kerry Patterson, and Joseph Grenny
- Best career advice you have received: In regard to work life balance, I would quote Nora Roberts:
- “The key to juggling is to know that some of the balls you have in the air are made of plastic and some are made of glass. And if you drop a plastic ball, it bounces, no harm done. If you drop a glass ball, it shatters, so you have to know which balls are glass and which are plastic and prioritize catching the glass ones.”
- What would you say to the other women in pediatric GI today? I would encourage women to explore a career in endoscopy. It is a growing filed in peds GI with opportunities for innovation and research. I love being a therapeutic endoscopist and find it to be very rewarding.
Researcher – Maureen Leonard, MD
- Current position and institution: Director, Center for Celiac Research and Treatment; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
- Favorite GI disease: Celiac Disease
- Hobbies: Hanging with my husband, sons (ages four and one) and our pup. I also enjoy cooking, eating, yoga, cycling and shopping.
- Favorite vacation spot: Italy- It’s beautiful and family-friendly. The people are fantastic, and the gluten-free food is amazing!
- Book you recommend: These days, I’ve been listening to books on my walk to and from work. Recently, I enjoyed “Quiet” by Susan Cain.
- Best career advice you have received: Write down your top three career goals. When requests and opportunities come up, say “Yes” if they help you to reach those goals. Say “No” if the presented opportunities don’t align with your listed goals.
- What would you say to the other women in pediatric GI today?: This is an amazing and fun field with lots of areas ripe for discovery. However, to ensure the unique needs of being a woman in the pediatric GI field, we still have work to do. So let’s support each other to move this work forward faster.
Dr. Amal Aqul, MD
- Current position and institution: Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Director of Hepatology and Medical Director of Liver Transplant.
- Favorite GI disease: Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Hobbies: Reading, volunteer work, travelling, watching K-drama with my daughter, knitting and experimenting with recipes.
- Favorite vacation spot: anywhere in Italy but my favorite is Venice.
- Book you recommend: 48 Laws of Power but a book I really enjoyed is Forty Rules of Love
- Best career advice you have received: You don’t need to have all the answers—stay curious, ask for help when needed, and keep learning from those around you.
- What would you say to the other women in pediatric GI today? You belong in every room you enter. Your voice, expertise, and perspective are invaluable—advocate for yourself, uplift each other, and take up the space you deserve. Let’s continue pushing boundaries, creating opportunities, and leading with compassion, strength, and unwavering confidence. Let’s also empower the next generation of women in our field to drive real change, learning from the past to build a better future.
