WVU Health Sciences Women in Science and Health awardees announced

The WVU Health Sciences Center’s Women in Science and Health (WISH) committee recently recognized two faculty members – Rebecca Schmidt, D.O., F.A.C.P., and Angela Oglesby, M.D. – for outstanding achievements. A reception to honor both awardees will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, September 29, in the Pylons Lobby of the Health Sciences Center.

Dr. Schmidt has received the 2016 WVU Health Sciences Women in Science and Health Advanced Career Excellence Award, while Dr. Oglesby has earned the 2016 WVU Health Sciences Women in Science and Health Mid-Career Excellence Award. These honors recognize career achievements of women health sciences faculty and staff who demonstrate excellence in education, leadership, diversity, scholarship, research and service to West Virginia.

Dr. Schmidt is a professor of medicine and section chief of nephrology in the WVU School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine. She embodies the WISH award ideals and practices them in her many areas of focus, in addition to providing active clinical service for patients from all over the state.  She is a seasoned educator who provides mentorship to medical students, medical residents and nephology fellows. She has been instrumental in increasing access for patients from rural communities for whom access to any medical care is often very difficult. She is described as kind, compassionate, humanitarian and collaborative in areas of clinical care, teaching and mentoring, as well as in her research endeavors, qualities that are often overlooked in a busy and active practice.

Dr. Schmidt earned her doctor of osteopathy degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences, Des Moines, Iowa, and completed an internal medicine residency and fellowships in nephrology and clinical research at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. She has achieved both national and international prominence in nephrology and chronic kidney disease and is currently serving as the first female president of the Renal Physicians Association and is a fellow in the American College of Physicians and the American Society of Nephrology.

Dr. Oglesby is assistant professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine on the Eastern Campus and is assistant director of the WVU Rural Family Medicine residency program. She also serves as the fellowship director for WVU’s Maternal Child Health fellowship program and is the chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, Ranson, West Virginia. The WISH mid-career review committee was most impressed with Dr. Oglesby’s commitment to diversity, service and mentorship. Her activities have included leadership on Delta Sigma Theta-Eastern Panhandle alumnae chapter as well as participation in global health initiatives, rural medicine and women’s health care.

Dr. Oglesby earned her medical degree from WVU and completed a residency with WVU’s Rural Family Medicine program and a fellowship in maternal child health at PCC Community Wellness Center in Oak Park, Illinois.