In fields historically dominated by men, women like Rebecca Shaw, M.D., FACOG, and Rebecca Goldsmith, M.P.H.’13, are breaking barriers and leading the way in medicine and public health. Their intertwined stories at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences exemplify how far female leadership has come — and the profound impact it can have on future generations.
Shaw, a physician with decades of experience, knew from age six that she wanted to be a doctor. Despite facing skepticism and societal barriers, she pursued her dream. “I didn’t have female role models in medicine growing up,” she says. Shaw went on to deliver over 8,000 babies in her career and now inspires future health care providers as an assistant professor at DMU. “You are enough. You can do this. The rest doesn’t matter,” she tells her students.
Goldsmith’s connection to Shaw began at birth — literally. Delivered by Shaw, Goldsmith’s parents named her after the physician who impressed them with her kindness and professionalism. “It’s an honor to carry the name of such a brilliant woman who has touched countless lives,” she says.
Goldsmith, a health disparities program planner at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, earned her Master of Public Health degree from DMU and now serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. As a champion of women and a public health leader, she strives to empower young girls, much like how Shaw has inspired her. “As a woman, I feel a responsibility to demonstrate to young girls that they have opportunities as leaders in the community and in their careers,” Goldsmith says.