Anne Marie Lennon was announced in November as the next chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and chair of medicine at UPMC starting March 1, 2024. She is the first woman to attain this position at Pitt.
“We know that research is richer and more fruitful when people from multiple different backgrounds provide their perspective and ideas,” Lennon said. “To achieve this diversity, we must support women in medicine. I know that young women need role models in leadership positions, so I consider it an honor to accept that responsibility.”
Lennon said diversity in medicine is crucial because research has shown that patient outcomes are better when the medical team is diverse.
“My advice to the next generation of women is to raise your hand when leadership and other opportunities arise,” Lennon said.
Lennon completed her medical and graduate education at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and University College Dublin, respectively. She became part of the Johns Hopkins faculty and directed its division on gastroenterology and hepatology.
“We’re confident that Dr. Lennon’s vision for the Department of Medicine, already top-ranked, will further elevate its national and international standing, as well as enhance population and health equity in our local communities,” Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for Pitt Health Sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine, said in the press release issued by UPMC.
Lennon said she accepted the role as chair of medicine because it is an “exciting” opportunity that will allow her to direct groundbreaking research that will transform health care. She said she will retain her clinical responsibilities as a gastroenterologist.
“The University of Pittsburgh has an incredible department of medicine, truly among the best in the country, with outstanding students, faculty and staff,” Lennon said.
Lennon said Pittsburgh has an optimal environment for health care.
“Pittsburgh is unique in having all the elements necessary to provide the very best evidence-based, sustainable health care: a phenomenal, cross-disciplinary health sciences academic program at Pitt and a world-class health system in UPMC that is partnered with an insurance provider and venture capital arm,” Lennon said.
Lennon said her parents were her biggest influences in deciding to pursue medicine. She said her father is an academic gastroenterologist and taught her the importance of teaching the new generation of clinicians.
“And my mother, who is a fearless mentor, taught myself and my sisters that you will always face adversity and the most important thing is to find ways around challenges to achieve your goals,” Lennon said. “There are plenty of challenges in academic medicine, so her influence was very important to my success.”
Lennon said she looks forward to developing a diverse and collaborative culture where high-impact research is translated into patient care.
“Pitt and UPMC have the opportunity to develop new, sustainable models that provide the highest caliber care to our communities and that other health care providers can replicate,” Lennon said. “As a doctor, my primary goal is to bring great care to patients and make it accessible to all.”
She said her role also includes ensuring that medical students, residents and fellows actively participate in hands-on, team-based learning that will prepare them to be the future of medicine.
“Dr. Lennon is an impactful clinician-scientist who showed our research committee and the UPMC and Pitt teams her thoughtful and forward-looking servant leadership qualities,” Oscar Marroquin, senior vice president at UPMC and president of the Physician Services Division, said in the UPMC press release. “Her ability to understand, envision, apply and inspire will add to the trajectory of the department and our institutions.”