Chicago, Illinois - In conjunction with Women in Medicine Month, the American Medical Association (AMA)'s Women Physicians Section along with the AMA Foundation today announced the winners of the 2015 Joan F. Giambalvo Fund for the Advancement of Women research grants.

The scholarships of up to $10,000 are awarded by the AMA to research programs focused on advancing the study of women in the medical profession and strengthening the AMA's ability to identify and address the issues affecting women physicians and medical students.

“The AMA is honored to recognize two exceptional members of the medical community whose work will shed light on the issues facing women in medicine today,” said Susan R. Bailey, M.D., speaker of the AMA's House of Delegates. “As a female physician, I’m pleased to represent an organization that strives to propel the continued advancement of women in medicine.

This year’s recipients include Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics at Indiana University (IU) as well as executive director of the IU National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health. Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber’s research project titled “Save a Life” will focus on suicide risk, awareness and prevention among women physicians.

“With the assistance of the Giambalvo research grant, we will look at some of the reasons for the increased rate of suicide among female physicians, and what mechanisms exist to provide support, treatment, and management of emotional distress aimed at suicide prevention,” said Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber. “Thank you to the AMA and to the family of Joan F. Giambalvo for making this work possible, which we know will make a difference in the lives of physicians now and in the future.”

The other 2015 recipient is Lucy Spalluto, M.D., assistant professor of clinical radiology and radiological sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her research project titled “Female Faculty Development in Radiology” will focus on designing and implementing a module based educational program to promote the advancement of female faculty in academic medical centers.

“I’m thrilled and so appreciative to the AMA for giving me this opportunity,” stated Dr. Spalluto. “Ultimately, I hope to design a sustainable curriculum to promote female faculty development and retention within not only my institution but throughout academic medical centers across the nation.”