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Gigli Challenges Audience
to Create
‘Environment of Expectation’
UT Health Science Center at Houston President James T. Willerson, M.D., congratulates Irma Gigli, M.D., on receiving the Professional Woman of the Year Award.
Photo by Ester Fant
Irma Gigli, M.D., accepted the Professional Woman of the Year Award Dec. 2 at the annual awards banquet of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Committee on the Status of Women (CSW), saying careers are not only about an individual’s successes, but also about helping others achieve success. Gigli is deputy director of the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases (IMM).
The Professional Woman of the Year Award goes to a woman who has received recognition and acclaim as an outstanding achiever in Houston, in Texas or in the nation; made significant contributions to her professional discipline; earned the respect of her peers and of professionals in other disciplines; been instrumental in supporting social policies that benefit women; demonstrated a pioneer spirit; and supported and inspired women as a mentor and positive role model.
This year’s CSW chair is Marlene Z. Cohen, Ph.D., the John S. Dunn Distinguished Professor of Oncology Nursing at the UT School of Nursing at Houston (SON).
Gigli was nominated for the award by Patricia L. Starck, D.S.N., the John P. McGovern Distinguished Professor of Nursing and dean of the SON. Starck is a former recipient of the award.
“How high we stand in our academic careers – our reputation, our research, our publications – all is important, but I do not believe it is the full measure of professional success. How we mentor and help others build their careers is what makes us truly stand high,” said Gigli, who also is director of the IMM Research Center for Immunology and Autoimmune Diseases, the Walter and Mary Mischer Distinguished Professor in Molecular Medicine, and a faculty member at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
“I am who I am because of the mentors in my life, those who taught me, challenged me, and expected me to succeed.” Her mentors, Gigli said, pushed her to achieve as a scientist and an educator, and she, in turn, has done the same for those in her charge. “It is this continuous striving for excellence that creates new directions and discoveries that overturn dogmas and attain truth.”
I challenge you to raise the bar as high as you can
and then help lift others up to reach it,” Gigli said.
Gigli noted that with advancement and honors come responsibility. So she took the opportunity to challenge each person in attendance “to be mentors in your own careers, to create an environment of expectation for those around you, to give others opportunities to explore their creativity and their talents, to allow them to make their own mistakes and learn from them. I challenge you to raise the bar as high as you can and hen help lift others up to reach it.”
James T. Willerson, M.D., president of the UT Health Science Center, thanked Gigli for her leadership. “She is one of the world’s outstanding teachers, creative scientists, role models,” he said. “I don’t think you could have done any better in choosing her or the recipients of the President’s Mentoring Award. We celebrate the accomplishments of these four outstanding women. We have to consider the multiplier effect. As mentors and leaders, each has influenced countless others. That is the real contribution we celebrate tonight.”
The President’s Award for Mentoring Women, including a $2,000 cash award, was presented to three individuals – one each from among the faculty, administrative and professional staff, and classified staff:
- Faculty - Joy M. Schmitz, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Medical School;
- A&P - Ina Fried, director of communications, Office of Public Affairs; and
- Classified staff - Gwendolyn Sue Sifford, administrative services officer, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, School of Public Health.
While this year all the mentors honored were women, some past mentor awardees have been men, but the person or persons mentored must be female. The mentor coaches, teaches, advises, supports, guides and helps the person being mentored achieve her goals.
The mentor shares knowledge of how the “system” works or improves the “system” for those whose careers are still developing. A mentor may offer knowledge, insight, perspective or wisdom that is above and beyond the normal duty of that individual. The mentor may introduce the mentored individual to values, customs, resources and players in the field of interest or occupation or respond to critical needs that help prepare the mentored individual for greater productivity or achievement.
— By Pamela Lewis, Public Affairs