March is Women’s History Month. Celebrate the stories and legacies of the women throughout history who have shaped the world! Please join us in honoring MedChi’s most recent past female presidents, Drs. Loralie Ma and Shannon Pryor.
Dr. Loralie Ma is a Nuclear Radiology Specialist in Annapolis, MD. She received her Bachelor of Science, Ph.D., and M.D. in Biophysics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She completed her residency and fellowship in Radiology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Ma previously served as MedChi’s Speaker of the House and served in leadership roles with Baltimore County Medical Association. Growing up, Dr. Ma heard many intriguing stories from her father, who lived through the Japanese occupation in Shanghai, the Communist revolution, and post-war political problems in Taiwan. Hearing his stories taught Dr. Ma the importance of becoming part of something larger than yourself. “If you want your voice to be heard, you have to get involved politically,” she acknowledged. Her long and active involvement with MedChi and the Baltimore County Medical Association is a testament to her commitment and resolve toward organizing and creating positive change.
Dr. Shannon Penick Pryor received her Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors, in neuroscience with a concentration in English from Williams College in Massachusetts. She received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Pryor completed her residency through Johns Hopkins Medicine and completed her fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a longtime member of MedChi, she has previously served on the Board of Trustees and served in Montgomery County (Maryland) Medical Society (MCMS) leadership. Dr. Pryor joined MedChi in 1993 and has been actively involved since that time. In addition to her work at MedChi, she has been active in the American Medical Association for over thirty years. Dr. Pryor has stated “a challenge is an opportunity to create change. And for Maryland physicians, MedChi makes that happen.” Dr. Pryor led the response to COVID-19 and helped improve the way MedChi cares for patients and prepares for disruptions. With Dr. Pryor’s leadership, MedChi has done an amazing job to serve physicians in this crisis.
The collective work of these two former presidents marks a major step toward equalizing women’s voices in health affairs and health care policy.