University of Virginia School of Medicine Vitals magazine published by the UVA Medical Alumni Association and Medical School Foundation (MAA MSF)
Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/45472
alumQ&A Sharon Dooley, MD '73 What led you to the concentrations of Obstetrics and Gynecology? I came to medical school with an interest in Ob-Gyn passed on from my mother who was a postgraduate maternity nurse. The Ob-Gyn residents would let me observe in Labor and Delivery during study breaks the first year of med school. That only whetted my interest more. The Chair of Ob-Gyn, Dr. Thornton, encouraged me despite the fact there were precious few women in the field at that time. He was special. What was your experience like as senior as- sociate dean working in a leadership position with Northwestern McGaw Center for Graduate Medical Education? That decade was very rewarding personally. I sincerely enjoyed the challenge of leading our 78 ACGME-accredited programs through changes like compliance with duty hours restrictions. I had intended to retire when I stepped down this past December but was unexpectedly tapped to be interim chair of Ob-Gyn. I am happy to serve, yet looking forward to being replaced. Why did you choose to attend medical school at UVA? My Uncle Bob (Robert K. Duley, MD) went to UVA. He convinced me that it was the best medical school in the country. I had great respect for him so UVA was #1 on my list. Fortunately I was accepted. I still thank my lucky stars I had his advice. What was your experience like at the School of Medicine? We had a sterling education at Virginia. Infectious Diseases was particularly excellent. When I was in training at Northwestern, I ascertained Roth spots in a pregnant patient with fevers which led to the diagnosis of subacute bacterial endocarditis. The internal medicine service was flabbergasted to be scooped by an Ob intern. But, that was the high level of training we all had at UVA. Are there any classmates/professors/colleagues/ etc. from UVA who were particularly influential on your career/education or with whom you are still close? The class of 1973 was awesome! I regret that I was never able to keep up with my classmates very much, except for Thelda Kestenbaum, MD, who remains my best friend (and a special "auntie" to my daughter). Are there any awards/accomplishments (during your time at UVA or throughout your career) of which you are particularly proud? My mentor at Northwestern was Albert B. Gerbie, MD. Al was a giant in Ob-Gyn. Ultimately there was a chair endowed in his name. The thrill of my career was being named the first Gerbie Professor. What are your passions outside of medicine? How do you prefer to spend your free time? There was just never very much discretionary time in my career. All my free time was devoted to family, especially my husband and our son and daughter. My husband, Ralph Tamura, is also a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist, so it was sort of a double whammy for us. I have no regrets whatsoever. However, I have a very, very long bucket list for retirement. The top two things on that list are: Learning to tap dance, just for fun, and learning sign language so I can volunteer at the hospital to assist patients who are deaf. I would also like to go back to college to study history. My friends just roll their eyes over that one, but then none of them went to Thomas Jefferson's University. Vitals Fall 2011 33