For immediate release: March 1, 2024

In recognition of Women’s History Month, join Jane Plitt, director of the National Center of Women’s Innovations and discover the women behind Cataract Surgery, the Covid (RNA) vaccine, Ozempic, and treatments for Leprosy and Sickle Cell Anemia. On March 10, she will be sharing the buried stories of number of women who were innovators in health care including Dr. Patricia Bath, Dr. Katalin Kariko, Dr. Svetlana Mojsov, Chemist Alice Ball, and Drs. Doudna and Charpentie.

Dr. Patricia Bath will be featured for her role in developing cataract eye surgery, a monumental leap for treating cataracts, allowing so many of us to be treated as out-patients. Dr. Katalin Kariko, recent co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine, blazed a path in developing mRNA leading to the life-saving COVID vaccine, but was denied tenure, never given her own lab and never paid more than $60,000 by the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Svetlana Mojsov developed the crystal structure for the hormone leading to production of Ozempic but was left off the patent. Chemist Alice Ball developed a cure for leprosy and then tragically died in her twenties; her boss tried to claim responsibility for her work! Drs. Doudna and Charpentier developed the genome editing technology (CRISPR) just approved for treating sickle cell anemia.

These women fundamentally altered health for so many of us, and yes struggled to be recognized for their roles. Their experiences are indicative of the struggle thousands of women innovators have and are having. Not only during Women's History Month, but always the National Center of Women's Innovations intends to spotlight the dramatic accomplishments of women innovators. Come discover and cheer these forgotten innovators.

Doors open at 12:30 p.m. for meet and greet; the lecture begins at 1 p.m. Books will be available for sale before and after the lecture. The event is free, but space is limited. Please reserve your space at Alexandriava.gov/shop.

The Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum is located at 201 South Washington Street. 

For media inquiries please contact Jim Holloway at jim.holloway@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4994. 

For reasonable accommodation or an alternative format, email historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.

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This release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/5579.