Woman One Celebration Is April 23 at the Rittenhouse Hotel
Dianne Semingson Is Woman One 2012
The Institute for Women's Health and Leadership will honor Philadelphia community leader Dianne Semingson with the tenth annual Woman One award on April 23, 2012, at the Rittenhouse Hotel.
Semingson is the president and founder of DLS International, Inc., a strategic planning and marketing communications firm. A leader in both the private and public sectors, she is currently on the corporate boards of RevolutionCare/CareKinesis, Inc., Semingson Enterprises and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and the community boards of Avenue of the Arts, Inc.,Committee of Seventy, Pennsylvania Women’s Forum, Union League of Philadelphia, Wilma Theater, World Game Institute and YMCA of Greater Philadelphia & Vicinity.
2012 Scholar Amber Peterson
The Woman One program honors annually a woman of outstanding leadership and raises funds for medical scholarships for talented under-represented minority women at Drexel University College of Medicine. This year's scholarship recipient is Amber Peterson. Amber's scholarship is fully funded by The Trust Fund of the Alumnae/i Association of WMC/MCP. A native of Oxon Hill, Maryland, she attended the University of Pennsylvania where she received a degree in health and societies. After graduation, Amber spent a year at the University of Maryland in a post baccalaureate program preparing for medical school and conducting research in healthcare policy. She currently volunteers as a tutor and mentor for at-risk children.
Amber joins the ranks of nine current Woman One Scholars and eight Woman One Scholars Emeritae.
Past Woman One Honorees
Since the Woman One program was initiated by the IWHL in 2003, honorees have been:
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Director of the Women's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor Sara Manzano-Díaz (2011)
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Former First Lady of Drexel University Eliana Papadakis (2010)
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Former President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Jane Pepper (2009)
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City Representative and Director of Commerce Stephanie Naidoff (2008)
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Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President and CEO Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey (2007)
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Philanthropist and television personality Suzanne Roberts (2006)
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Olympic Gold Medalist Dawn Staley (2005)
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Attorney and community leader Leslie Anne Miller (2004)
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Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle Richman (2003)
Woman One continues to connect Drexel University College of Medicine to the greater Philadelphia community by engaging businesses and foundations in supporting Drexel's diversity initiatives.
2011 Woman One Program

From left: Dr. Richard Homan, President and Annenberg Dean, Drexel University College of Medicine; Maria Pajil Battle; Stanley Silverman, Chair Designate Drexel University College of Medicine Board of Trustees; Lorina Marshall-Blake; Romulo L. Diaz, Jr.; Woman One scholars Alicia Howard, Carla Zeballos, Donyell Doram and Sharrón Manuel; Lynn Yeakel, Director, Institute for Women's Health and Leadership, Drexel University College of Medicine; Woman One scholar Chinwe Ibeh; Woman One 2011 Sara Manzano-Díaz; Woman One Scholar Michelle Ballentyne; Nelson Díaz; Woman One scholars Janielle Hyde and Gisela Vargas; Woman One 2004 Leslie Anne Miller; Women One scholar Ifeoma Nwabuzor; Dr. Anthony Rodriguez, Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Diversity, Drexel University College of Medicine; Miriam Hernández; Lourdes Hernández; Woman One 2006 Suzanne Roberts; Woman One 2010 Eliana Papadakis.

Woman One Scholars are pictured with Sara Manzano-Díaz, the 2011 Woman One Honoree.
Current Woman One Scholars
"These are amazing young people who deserve our support," said Jane Pepper, Woman One 2009.
Gisela Vargas (2012)
A Johns Hopkins University graduate with leadership commendations in biomedical engineering, Gisela plans to work in primary care and preventive medicine so she is able to make a difference in the lives of patients by promoting healthy living. Fluent in Spanish, she works closely with the Hispanic population in her clinical rotations and volunteers in the community through her sorority Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and grew up in Maryland.
Ifeoma Nwabuzor (2012)
Born in London of Nigerian parents, Ifeoma lived in Connecticut and is a University of Pennsylvania graduate. She taught HIV/AIDS and substance abuse education, volunteered at CHOP during her time at Penn, and did research at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She has been enjoying her clinical rotations and plans to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology so that she can continue her commitment to improving the lives of women.
Donyell Doram (2013)
A biotechnology and biochemistry graduate of Rutgers University, Donyell was recently inducted into the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society. She has a passion for community service and currently volunteers as a tutor to middle and high school students from North Philadelphia and with outreach programs that encourage girls to pursue careers in science, engineering and math.
Alicia Howard (2013)
Alicia, who grew up in North Carolina and is a graduate of Howard University, aspires to be an endocrinologist. Alicia is actively involved in the Student National Medical Association and volunteers at the Eliza Shirley Clinic, an emergency shelter for women and children in Philadelphia. She recently completed a Master’s Degree in Public Health while simultaneously pursing her medical degree. Alicia’s scholarship is fully funded by the Sunshine Lady Foundation.
Stephanie Johnson (2013)
Now in her fourth year rotations working in a free clinic in Pittsburgh, Stephanie has developed an interest in helping adolescents in underserved communities and tutors a small group of neighborhood children in math and science. She plans to specialize in Family Medicine so that she is able to work with patients throughout their lives and develop strong relationships with them.
Sharrón Manuel (2013)
MD/PhD Program
Originally from West Virginia, Ronni is one of the original Woman One Scholars. She has been pursuing dual MD/PhD degrees and recently finished the coursework, research and thesis necessary for her PhD. Now focusing on her clinical rotations in medical school, Ronni hopes to become a “compassionate physician who puts the patient first.”
Carla Zeballos (2013)
Carla was born in Bolivia, but grew up in Virginia and is a graduate of University of Virginia. She served as co-president of the Latino Medical Student Association at DUCOM in which she volunteered in the community – tutoring, mentoring and presenting health programs to underserved populations in North Philadelphia. Carla won the 2010-2011 Dr. Jaime H. Rivera-Velez Award for Outstanding Community Service.
Chinwe Ibeh (2014)
A graduate of Columbia University, Chinwe is originally from Nigeria. In addition to earning honors grades in all of her first year medical school courses, she is currently involved with a community outreach program for senior citizens. Chinwe has an interest in research and recently obtained her fourth publication in colon cancer research.
Nejat Merdato (2014)
Nejat was born in Ethiopia, moved to Maryland as a teenager and is a graduate of the University of Maryland. Now entering her third year of medical school, she volunteers at several school-run health clinics in the Philadelphia area and spent the summer of 2011 in Ethiopia, working with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity providing medical care and education in hygiene and other health-related topics.
Woman One Scholar Emeritae
Michelle Ballentyne, M.D. —2011
Michelle is a native of Jamaica and graduate of Temple University who worked fulltime to support herself through college while volunteering to help the elderly and disabled. In summer 2008, Michelle was a research assistant in the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program, and recently traveled to Kenya on a medical mission trip. She is currently a resident at Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia.
Janielle Hyde, M.D. — 2011
Janielle is a graduate of Howard University with roots in Canada, Jamaica, and Florida. In her second year of medical school,, she volunteered as a reading tutor for local 5th and 6th grade students and also became involved with Student National Medical Association. She plans to pursue neurology at Georgetown University Hospital.
Edwina Coleman, M.D. — 2010
Edwina came from Umatilla, Florida, to Drexel University College of Medicine with bachelor's and master's degrees in science. Edwina held leadership roles in the Student National Medical Society, and her interests lie in OB/GYN and emergency medicine. Edwina's scholarship was fully funded by The Sunshine Lady Foundation. She is currently a resident at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA.
Emila Cuneo, M.D. — 2009
Emilia is a family medicine resident at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. With a passion for women's health and caring for patients with HIV/AIDS, Emilia plans to pursue fellowships in these disciplines upon completion of her residency.
Keri Fugarolas, M.D. — 2009
Keri is a resident in pediatrics at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. She is bilingual and is dedicated to serving St. Christopher’s Spanish-speaking patient population.
Veronica Ramirez, M.D. — 2009
Veronica returned to her native California to become a resident in pediatrics at Children's Hospital Central California – UC San Francisco. She was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in her fourth year at DUCOM. Veronica’s Woman One scholarship was funded by the Suzanne Roberts Cultural Development Fund.
Annette Lopez, M.D. — 2008
Annette was recently named chief resident in emergency medicine at Albert Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia. Prior to graduation in 2008, she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
LaToia Marks, M.D. — 2008
LaToia is an OB/GYN resident at the University of Texas at Houston, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. A Houston native, she returned to her home community to treat underserved patients who continue to recover from hurricane devastation of recent years. LaToia’s Woman One Scholarship was funded by AmeriChoice.
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