MEET MORE OF OUR 2024 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
In February, Dr. Daisy Sahoo was appointed Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at the Medical College of Wisconsin – the first woman to hold the position in the history of the institution.
Sahoo came to Milwaukee in 2007, after finishing her postdoctoral studies at Stony Brook University in New York.
As a MCW faculty leader, Sahoo has guided graduate students in her laboratory that is housed in the Division of Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine. Under her tutelage, students research how lipoproteins move cholesterol and triglycerides around the body. They’re working toward solutions that could regulate those mechanisms and transform how we treat patients and improve health outcomes.
“Watching students develop their skills is a rewarding experience.”
“Every time we make a small discovery, it’s adding a piece to the puzzle,” says Sahoo. “Every single student has been published due to their discoveries – it’s really exciting.”
Now, in her role as dean, Sahoo has a new goal on the horizon: making MCW’s School of Graduate Studies a destination for healthcare students and professionals.
“I’m working to increase the visibility of our graduate school,” says Sahoo. “MCW is a health sciences university that offers numerous graduate education programs to complement and uplift innovative research. Our research is driven by our graduate students and our postdoctoral fellows. Our learners can make an incredible impact here.”
Q&A
What do you love most about working with your students in the lab?
The best part about the lab is having that mentor relationship. Watching students come in and develop the skills to transition into independence is a wonderful experience. When they start teaching me what to do, that’s when I know I’ve done my job.
Can you tell me about the Women in Science professorship program?
The Women in Science program was started a long time ago to showcase the research of our women faculty at MCW. It’s transformed through the years, and recently, it was awarded to me as the first woman dean of a school. I plan to use it to support all students, whether through awards, emergency funding, or other recognition mechanisms, especially those who have caregiving responsibilities.
