CT Women's Hall of Fame to Honor Branford's Linda Richetelli-Pepe and Virginia Stuermer, M.D.

In addition to inducting Rebecca Lobo, Jane Pauley, and Joyce Yerwood, M.D., at its 23rd Annual Induction Ceremony & Celebration, “Women’s Wellness: Awareness, Advocacy & Action,” on November 2, 2016, the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame (CWHF) will recognize a group of Women’s Wellness Honorees. Branford residents Linda Richetelli-Pepe, MBA, CHC, and Virginia Stuermer, M.D. are two of those Honorees.

Linda Richetelli-Pepe, MBA, CHC, is Senior Director of Healthcare Economics, Policy, and Reimbursement: Payer/Employer Solutions at Medtronic. Over her more than 30 years in the healthcare delivery system, Ms. Richetelli-Pepe has held executive positions with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Connecticut and Anthem in marketing, national account sales, operations, member services, and underwriting. She joined Medtronic (then Covidien) in 2008, holding pivotal positions in professional affairs and clinical education as well as marketing, focused on the clinical and economic benefits of key therapies.

In her current role, Ms. Richetelli-Pepe leads strategy and innovation to deliver value-based programs that align payers, employers, providers, and patients. She is also the Executive Director of Medtronic’s Women in Surgery platform, helping to fill the pipeline of future surgeons, and adjunct professor/lecturer in business at both Quinnipiac University and Southern Connecticut State University. An internationally recognized advocate for ergonomic medical devices and business acumen for female surgeons, Ms. Richetelli-Pepe holds a B.S. in English Education from the University of Connecticut and an MBA in Economics from Southern Connecticut State University.

Virginia Stuermer, M.D., is a retired OBGYN and Clinical Associate at the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Stuermer earned a B.A. with honors from the University of Nebraska and her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical College in 1948, completing her residency at the University of Iowa. As the first female OBGYN instructor at the Yale School of Medicine, she was an important role model for the first generation of women accepted as residents at Yale. She was also a key figure in the fight to overturn Connecticut’s statute that prohibited contraceptive devices or any discussion of their use.

In 1961, when Dr. C. Lee Buxton and Estelle Griswold opened the first Planned Parenthood clinic, they recruited Dr. Stuermer for their clinical team. Though it was Dr. Buxton and Ms. Griswold who would be arrested, it was Dr. Stuermer who ran the clinic that was at the heart of the 1965 Supreme Court decision that defined a new right to privacy. Subsequently, Dr. Stuermer served as Medical Director of Planned Parenthood from 1965 to 1969 and was a founding member and co-Medical Director of Women’s Health Services until 1990. Dr. Stuermer continued to practice until the end of 2003, but remains an active member of the OBGYN department at Yale.

“Women throughout the state are changing history every day, and this year’s Honorees are doing that by empowering other women to make informed decisions about their own wellbeing,” says Kathryn Gloor, executive director of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. “Whether they’re providing direct care, advocating for better health outcomes, or working to increase public awareness, they are inspiring all of us to advance women’s wellness.”

The other Women’s Wellness Honorees are:

Nancy M. Cappello, Ph.D., Director & Founder, Are You Dense, Inc. & Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc.

Tireless breast health advocate raising awareness of dense breast tissue and securing legislation and funding for expanded mammography

Lisa Chedekel and Lynne DeLucia, Co-Founders and Senior Editors, Connecticut Health I-Team

Award-winning investigative reporters focusing on in-depth coverage of women’s health issues

Manon M.J. Cox, Ph.D., MBA, President & CEO, Protein Sciences Corporation

Internationally recognized expert in innovative vaccines to treat influenza and other illnesses

Maria Ellis, M.D., Physician & OBGYN, Woodland Women’s Health Associates

Dedicated women’s health innovator, educator, and mentor celebrated among Connecticut’s top OBGYNs

Sally G. Haskell, M.D., Deputy Chief Consultant for Clinical Operations & Director of Comprehensive Women’s Health in Women’s Health Services, Veterans Health Administration; Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine

National leader in healthcare for female veterans, focusing on gender-specific outcomes after combat exposure

Karen M. Jarmoc, Chief Executive Officer, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Influential policy-maker and statewide advocate for victims of domestic violence

Margo Maine, Ph.D., Founder, Maine and Weinstein Specialty Group, LLC

Award-winning author and internationally recognized expert in the treatment and prevention of eating disorders

Marlene Schwartz, Ph.D., Director, University of Connecticut Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

Award-winning researcher and advocate for improved food and nutrition policy focusing on factors that shape children’s eating attitudes and behaviors

Made possible by platinum sponsor Aetna and other distinguished sponsors, the CWHF’s 23rd Annual Induction Ceremony & Celebration will take place on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. This year’s event will recognize three remarkable who have made tremendous contributions to advance awareness of health and wellness issues facing women and whose work inspires others to advocacy and action. They are: Rebecca Lobo, award-winning athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, successful television analyst, author, and advocate for breast cancer awareness and research; Jane Pauley, one of broadcasting’s most respected journalists and longtime advocate for children’s health, education and mental health; and Joyce Yerwood, M.D. (1909-1987), first African American woman physician in Fairfield County, founder of the Yerwood Center and pioneer in drug treatment programs.

The mission of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame (CWHF) is to honor publicly the achievements of Connecticut women, preserve their stories, educate the public and inspire the continued achievements of women and girls. Founded in 1994 in Hartford, CWHF is a provider of innovative educational programs and tools that inspire women and girls to believe in their unlimited potential. The 112 Inductees are role models for women of all ages, and their stories are proof of all that women can accomplish. CWHF leverages these powerful stories and makes history relevant through programs for educators, multi-media presentations and traveling exhibits offered free-of-charge. This work fosters the courage and confidence women need to overcome barriers and advocate on their own behalf. Each year, CWHF shows 50,000 women and girls what’s possible and empowers them to take an active role in shaping their future. The CWHF website, www.cwhf.org, is a “Virtual Hall” where visitors can explore all that CWHF has to offer. To join CWHF via social media, find and like ctwomen on Facebook and follow @ctwomen on Twitter.