Women in Science - Online Interviews - Karen Richardson Soons

Karen Richardson Soons

1. Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.

Tomorrow I begin my day at 7:00am with a planning meeting for the Vermont Area Health Education Center Training Work Group. I am involved in the creation of a state-wide database that will track rural experiences of students pursuing fields related to/or in health care. I will then come back to my office and design some patient consent forms for a new project that I am working on. After that is complete, I will review a medical student project and send the student an e-mail with my suggestions. I will then review my notes and prepare for my President's Commission on the Status of Women's (PCSW) meeting. From 11-1, I will go to the PCSW meeting. I am currently Chair of the Campus Climate Committee for this group. This committee visits each of the Colleges at the University and helps the Deans identify ways to eliminate barriers to women and implement new programs that support the growth of women.
During the afternoon, I will review multiple publications with articles relevent to my research.

2. How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?

After moving to Vermont, I began looking for a job. I applied for my current job because it was diverse in nature, worked with students and faculty, conducted research and had teaching opportunities. I liked the challenge that this position created. My educational background is broad based (BA - secondary education and biology; PhD - Pharmacology/Toxicology; Postdoctoral experience - medical pharmacology/cardiology) which allowed me the flexibility necessary to apply.

3. What is the best thing about your job?

The best thing about my job is working together with the medical students.

4. What do you like the least?

Attending either 7:00 am or 6:00pm meetings are my least favorite parts of my job.

5. As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?

As a child, I had no idea that jobs like mine existed. However, I have always had a strong interest in medicine, in helping people, teaching and figuring out why things worked. I often talked with strangers and asked them if they liked their jobs and what characteristics about their jobs made them unique.

6. Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?

There was no specific person that influenced my job decision, however my parents always told me that I could do anything I chose to persue. A College professor urged me to go on to Medical or Graduate school and my Graduate advisor convinced me to pursue my PhD. I had support throughout my life which was very important.

7. What is your favorite quote?

My favorite quote is:
"The most critical work for leaders today is to change the metaphor of leadership -- from parental hierarchy to community, from control to empowerment, from boss to guide and coach, from follers to constituents, from entitlement to personal accountability."
This quote was from Carol Aschenbrener, MD during her remarks at the AAMC's 1996 Professional Development Seminar for Senior Women.

8. What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?

The advice I have for young women who might be interested in the field of science is "Go For It!!" Talk with lots of different people in science carreers, look at all of the opportunties. Science is exciting and it is all around us.

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1.	Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.
	Tomorrow I begin my day at 7:00am with a planning meeting for the Vermont Area Health Education Center Training Work Group. I am involved in the creation of a state-wide database that will track rural experiences of students pursuing fields related to/or in health care. I will then come back to my office and design some patient consent forms for a new project that I am working on. After that is complete, I will review a medical student project and send the student an e-mail with my suggestions. I will then review my notes and prepare for my President's Commission on the Status of Women's (PCSW) meeting. From 11-1, I will go to the PCSW meeting. I am currently Chair of the Campus Climate Committee for this group. This committee visits each of the Colleges at the University and helps the Deans identify ways to eliminate barriers to women and implement new programs that support the growth of women. During the afternoon, I will review multiple publications with articles relevent to my research.
2.	How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?
	After moving to Vermont, I began looking for a job. I applied for my current job because it was diverse in nature, worked with students and faculty, conducted research and had teaching opportunities. I liked the challenge that this position created. My educational background is broad based (BA - secondary education and biology; PhD - Pharmacology/Toxicology; Postdoctoral experience - medical pharmacology/cardiology) which allowed me the flexibility necessary to apply.
3.	What is the best thing about your job?
	The best thing about my job is working together with the medical students.
4.	What do you like the least?
	Attending either 7:00 am or 6:00pm meetings are my least favorite parts of my job.
5.	As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?
	As a child, I had no idea that jobs like mine existed. However, I have always had a strong interest in medicine, in helping people, teaching and figuring out why things worked. I often talked with strangers and asked them if they liked their jobs and what characteristics about their jobs made them unique.
6.	Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?
	There was no specific person that influenced my job decision, however my parents always told me that I could do anything I chose to persue. A College professor urged me to go on to Medical or Graduate school and my Graduate advisor convinced me to pursue my PhD. I had support throughout my life which was very important.
7.	What is your favorite quote?
	My favorite quote is: "The most critical work for leaders today is to change the metaphor of leadership -- from parental hierarchy to community, from control to empowerment, from boss to guide and coach, from follers to constituents, from entitlement to personal accountability." This quote was from Carol Aschenbrener, MD during her remarks at the AAMC's 1996 Professional Development Seminar for Senior Women.
8.	What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?
	The advice I have for young women who might be interested in the field of science is "Go For It!!" Talk with lots of different people in science carreers, look at all of the opportunties. Science is exciting and it is all around us.