Remembering Dr. Jacquelin Perry, 1918-2013
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of our organization’s namesake, Dr. Jacquelin Perry, at the age of 94. Below, Perry Initiative leaders remember her and her legacy.
Dr. Perry was not only a pioneer in orthopaedic surgery, rehabilitation, and medical innovation, she was also a mentor to countless women and men in the profession. Here at The Perry Initiative, we proudly carry on her legacy through our nationwide outreach efforts to recruit more women into orthopaedics and engineering. Since 2009, over 16,000 women high school and medical students have participated in our hands-on outreach programs at 600+ events nationwide. 85% of our high school program alumnae follow in Dr. Perry’s footsteps by pursuing careers in STEM, with 60% in the biosciences and 25% in engineering. Our medical school program matches over 20% of its participants into orthopaedic residency programs, and we now have over 325 alumnae of our program in orthopaedic surgery residency or practice. Thank you, Dr. Perry, for all that you have done. We are proud to carry on your good work.
Dr. Jenni Buckley, PhD, Co-founder of The Perry Initiative
I owe my career to Dr. Perry. She was the one who encouraged me to go to medical school when I was working as a research physical therapist. I knew that I loved the musculoskeletal system and wanted to do more but had never had someone in the profession tell me that I was smart enough to do it. Her confidence in me gave me the confidence to go back to medical school and become an orthopaedic surgeon. Her letter of recommendation is probably what got me into residency. One of my interviewers said to me “I have to meet the candidate that Jackie Perry would write such an amazing letter about; she’s a tough one and does not give faint praise”. She followed my career from that point forward…..always knew where I was and what I was doing. She acted as a mentor and sponsor to countless men and women in orthopaedic surgery. It is only fitting that we named our organization after her. I am so grateful that she had the chance to take part in both the Perry Outreach Program and the Medical Student Outreach Program before her passing. She was so proud of the organization.
Dr. Lisa Lattanza, MD, Co-founder of The Perry Initiative
In ten years with the Perry Initiative, I have had the opportunity to meet many women and men surgeons who cite Dr. Perry as a mentor. In appreciation and remembrance of her trailblazing career as a woman in orthopaedics, they generously donate to our organization or join our programs as volunteers, carrying on Dr. Perry's legacy. Also as exciting, I now know participants in our Perry Outreach Programs for high school students who have gone on to attend Medical Student Outreach Programs. Many Medical Student Outreach Program alumnae are currently residents and junior faculty in orthopaedics departments - they are now the facilitators and speakers for the events they once participated in. The roots of The Perry Initiative can be traced to Dr. Jacquelin Perry's influence on Dr. Lisa Lattanza's path in orthopaedic surgery, but I am so proud that the branches of our organization now stretch so far with many successful women who are also paying it forward. Thank you for being a part of our story!
Dr. Laurie Dearolf, PhD, Executive Director of The Perry Initiative