Faculty

Patricia Joy Numann MD completed surgical training at the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse New York in 1970 when few women became surgeons. She joined the faculty at her alma mater where she remained her entire academic career, retiring in 2007 as the Lloyd S Rogers Professor of Surgery. Her alma mater honored her with the SUNY Distinguished Teacher award, the Distinguished Alumna award, the SUNY Distinguished Service Professor award, and an Honorary Doctor of Science degree.
Dr Numann’s pursued an interest in surgical education when that was not considered an academic activity. She was a founding member of the Association for Surgical Education. She participated in numerous educational programs of the American College of Surgeons including SESAP. She created and directs the ACS Fundamentals of the Surgery Curriculum project.
She has been a staunch supporter of gender equity. She founded the Association of Women Surgeons. Now 40 years old, the organization has chapters and members throughout the world. The realization that gender equity is essential to assuring the world an adequate surgical workforce particularly in low and middle income countries has led to further support of women globally in particular, Women in Surgery Africa. For her gender equity work she has received the Elizabeth Blackwell Award from the American Medical Women’s Association the International Society of Surgeon’s Prize and the American College of Surgeons Lifetime Achievement award . In recognition of Patricia Numann’s commitment to the education and training of surgeons worldwide, her dedication to the care of women with breast disease and her exemplary support for gender equity she has been made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburg, the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand and the Association of Surgeons of India.
Her leadership roles include the Presidency of the American College of Surgeons, the Association for Surgical Education and the Association of Women Surgeons. She has been the first woman in numerous positions most notably as a member of the American Medical Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs, Chair of the American Board of Surgery and President of the Association for Surgical Education.