Remembering Our History
Twenty-five years ago, the beginnings of what would become the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation were established with a sense of urgency by a concerned group of leaders. Christie Huddleston MD led this effort, so we asked her to tell us the story of how the Foundation began.
“Founding this organization was really out of necessity,” recalled co-founder Dr. Huddleston.
The Archives and Special Collections on Women in Medicine, a nationally recognized archival collection, were at risk during the bankruptcy proceedings at the medical school. After a dramatic quest to secure the materials and steward them to safety, a special committee of the Woman’s Medical College/Medical College of Pennsylvania Special Trust Fund was convened in 1998.
“The Special Trust Fund was a really wonderful organization,” said Dr. Huddleston. “Those women understood what happens in a women’s organization when they open their doors to men. At the Special Trust Fund, you had men and women working side by side for the same goal — to educate women well.”
The Special Trust Fund recommended creating the Foundation for the History of Women in Medicine to serve as a nonprofit organization to shepherd these important historic documents and materials through the bankruptcy process and, if needed, serve as a repository to preserve them.
Working alongside founding member and executive director Vicki Burkhart, the Foundation for the History of Women in Medicine (now the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation) was formed. Its early board members secured significant contributions to launch the organization and establish a pathway forward in fulfilling its mission.
“Vicki was there from the beginning and really understood organizations well,” Dr. Huddleston continued. “And she knew everyone! Vicki valued what we valued even though she wasn’t a physician.”
In 2001, with the most urgent part of its original mission fulfilled (specifically, The Archives and Special Collections on Women in Medicine were absorbed by and safely located within Drexel University School of Medicine), the FHWIM turned its focus to its larger mission — to promote the history of women in medicine and the medical sciences on a national and international level.
That legacy continues through the Foundation today.
“It has been a long journey but I’m completely pleased we have reached 25 years,” concluded Dr. Huddleston.
Many more passionate volunteers were an integral part of establishing the Foundation. Look for their stories and more as we look back at the past 25 years of impact in future newsletters. Learn more about our history at www.wimlf.org/our-history.
About Christie Huddleston, MD:
Christie Huddleston MD is a psychiatrist and an adult and child psychoanalyst practicing in Philadelphia. She is a founding member and past president of the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation (Formerly FWIM). She currently serves as treasurer. Besides her involvement in the WIMLF Board, she currently serves on the ACP (Association for Child Psychoanalysis) Board as secretary. Her academic appointment is as assistant clinical professor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where she is Coordinator for the Applied Psychoanalytic Curriculum for Child Fellows at CHOP. Dr. Huddleston is a Training Analyst (TA) and Child and Adolescent Supervising Analyst (SA) with the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia (PCOP). She is the current director of the child Psychoanalytic Training Program, former director of their Adult Psychoanalytic Program and chair of the TA/PA/SA and Candidate Progressions Committees. She has written and presented on developmental consequences of childhood trauma as well as the development and structuralization of the mind of the child.
In commemoration of its 25th anniversary, the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation is providing a series of interviews with leaders — both women and men — who have played a significant role in the development of the Foundation and the advancement of women in medicine and the sciences. If you are interested in supporting the future of the Foundation, your support would be greatly appreciated. Make a donation today at www.wimlf.org.