Chen, Holihan named AWS 40 Under 40
The Association of Women’s Surgeons has named Wendy Chen, MD, and Julie Holihan, MD, to the 2022 Class of the AWS 40 Under 40 Female Surgeons.
“As AWS celebrates its 40th anniversary, we are highlighting 40+ outstanding women surgeons under the age of 40,” the organization said. “These candidates are trailblazers in their field who make a significant impact with their actions.”
Chen is an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery and practices plastic surgery with a focus on adult and pediatric hand trauma, reconstruction, pediatric plastic surgery, congenital hand differences, and microsurgery. Outside of the operating room, Chen is passionate about medical education.
She has won many awards for her work in clinical, basic science, and education research.
Chen received her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 2013 before completing a residency in plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2020 and a Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship at UCLA in 2021. She joined the faculty at McGovern Medical School as an assistant professor in 2021.
Holihan is an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery and practices surgery with a focus on general, bariatric, foregut, and hernia surgeries at Memorial Hermann Hospital Texas Medical Center and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. She currently holds a KL2 grant from the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences for studies on “surgical repair versus expectant management of occult inguinal hernias.”
Holihan earned a 2022 Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award at McGovern Medical School and was recognized with the 2021 Young Faculty Award, given by the residents for excellence in teaching. She is a reviewer for four different surgical journals and has served as a research mentor since 2015.
Holihan received her medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in 2012 before earning her master of science in clinical research at UTHealth Houston in 2016. She completed residencies in general surgery at UTHealth Houston in 2016 and 2019 as well as a clinical research fellowship in 2016 and a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery/bariatric surgery in 2020.
The Association of Women Surgeons (AWS), founded in 1981, is a not-for-profit educational and professional organization. With approximately 3,000 members of all genders, AWS is one of the largest organizations dedicated to enhancing the interaction and exchange of information between women surgeons.