Dr. Laura Kenyon: Annelle M. Ahmed, M.D. Women’s Health Care Award
While on a mission trip in El Paso, Texas, Dr. Laura Kenyon met a woman whose sister was fighting stage 4 breast cancer. Given that Dr. Kenyon’s own mother and grandmother had breast cancer in their 40s, the experience left an indelible impression and inspired her to pursue obstetrics and gynecology. In this field, she hopes to continue researching, innovating, and expanding educational resources to improve the overall quality of life for women.
What this award means: “There is no greater accomplishment than being recognized for making the lives of women better. It means everything to me to make a difference for women, like physicians have for the women in my family.”
Mentor comment: “Laura is compassionate, thorough, and strives to provide quality care. Her passion for women’s health care far exceeds the hospital setting, as Laura has also completed several research projects to aid in teaching future Ob/Gyn students and residents.” – Dr. Alicia Kiszka, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Background and family: “I used to volunteer at Children’s Medical Center in high school and remember being in awe of the UTSW medical students. My first niece was adopted from foster care, and one of the babies our family fostered was born at Parkland Memorial Hospital. I know this experience will give me perspective delivering babies at Parkland next year. It gives me reassurance to know there are families who will love and accept them like my sister did for my niece, Jayla.”
What led to your career path: “One of my earliest memories is as a 6-year-old watching my grandmother attach her silicone breast; it was a constant reminder of what she bravely overcame. My mother similarly suffered from breast cancer, and I witnessed her battle. Her surgeon’s compassion completely altered my outlook on health care and inspired me to believe in the power of medicine and of the doctor-patient relationship. Ob/Gyn is the field that will allow me to have an everyday impact on a diverse range of women as well as advocate for women on a greater scale.”
UTSW activities: “I presented a uterine manipulator educational video at the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists conference and published it in Williams Gynecology. I also had a first author paper in Urology on program directors’ perception of pregnancy in urology residency. I am graduating with a distinction in research after completing a clinical trial involving postoperative pain following minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.”
Surprising fact: “I know American Sign Language and love to talk to people about the deaf community/culture! My fiancé, Conner, a UTSW biomedical engineering Ph.D. student, and I are both engineers by training, and we are planning on building a computer together this year (and yes, we have some pretty nerdy conversations). We recently adopted a cockapoo puppy named Luna!”
Future plans: “After completing my Ob/Gyn residency at UT Southwestern, I hope to complete a fellowship in a gynecologic surgical specialty. I recently became engaged, and we have a wedding date set for Sept. 3!”
About the award: The award is given in honor of Dr. Ahmed, a UT Southwestern Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology faculty member who died of breast cancer at age 39. Given to a student who demonstrates exemplary women’s health care, this student must also epitomize the clinician that Dr. Ahmed was – caring, intelligent, and involved in her community.