Thursday, March 13, 1997
AWARD:
Leadership in women’s health sets Dr. Mitzi Krockover apartBy
Kathryn Combs
Daily Bruin Contributor
Between lecturing on the long-term effects of abuse and domestic
violence, taking care of her 4 1/2-month old daughter and seeing
patients at the clinic, it is clear that Dr. Mitzi Krockover is a
woman on-the-go.
Accordingly, Krockover was recognized Monday by the Los Angeles
County Commission for Women as one of 12 "Women of the Year."
Nominated by Rita Moya, president of the National Health
Foundation, Krockover also has many fans among her colleagues, who
attest to her never-ending efforts as an educator and her
brilliance as a medical professional.
"She’s an outstanding professional and a real leader in the
women’s health area,"said Moya. "I’ve known Mitzi since 1990 …
and was amazed by how talented and well spoken and brilliant she
was. She does so much beyond her responsibilities with the women’s
center at UCLA," said Moya.
Krockover received her bachelor’s degree from Washington
University, in St. Louis Missouri, then went on to medical school
at the University of Texas and completed her residency at
Northwestern University in 1990.
She came to UCLA in December of 1991 and since then has
participated in the development one of what Dr. Alan Fogelman,
executive chair of the department of medicine, calls a "true
primary care women’s health center."
"She has been a pioneer in Los Angeles in establishing a primary
care based health care center for women. In fact, she’s a pioneer
in the nation,"said Fogelman.
Fogelman said that the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women’s Health Center is
not only inclusive of care specific to reproductive health, but
unlike most centers across the nation, also provides primary care
services for women.
"She is most deserving of this award because her contributions
to women’s health make her one of the most important women in Los
Angeles,"he added.
Each of the candidates is nominated by their peers and
colleagues. Award recipients are then chosen out of a pool of
approximately 100 nominees based on a particular set of criteria,
said Jim Corbett, staff coordinator for the Los Angeles County
Commission on Women.
"The nominees are all to have worked on behalf of women’s
issues, advocated on behalf of women’s rights, made significant
contributions to women’s equality issues and served as a role model
to women," said Corbett.
"It’s a very great honor, especially to be included with those
kinds of women that have truly achieved, many of them for numbers
of years,"said Krockover.
Among others recognized at the 12th Annual Women of the Year
Awards were Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Dr. Belinda Wilson,
president of California State University at Northridge.
Krockover, also an assistant professor of clinical medicine with
the UCLA School of Medicine, serves on many committees throughout
Los Angeles, including the Joint Committee of the Domestic Violence
Council and the Interagency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect. She
also co-directs a class called Topics in Women and Medicine, with
Dr. Jody Friedman.
"The women’s health piece for me is very important because many
of us that are practicing did not get a lot of specific training in
women’s health in our medical school and residency training,"said
Krockover, who routinely lectures on domestic violence, abuse and
its impact on women’s health topics.
"(Domestic violence) is primarily an issue for women although
there are other incidences of domestic violence,"she said. "There
is a higher rate of suicide in women who are depressed and have
been victims of domestic abuse … I hope in 10 years I won’t have
to be talking about it because it won’t be an issue," she
added.
As a result of what Krockover calls an "increased awareness"
regarding the long-term effects of types of abuse on women’s’
health, affiliates with the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women’s Health Center
are planning to open a women’s health and education resource
center, which will hopefully be completed within the next few
months.
"We will provide audio, visual and computer-based educational
information on women’s health issues,"said Krockover.
"We will also provide spaces for seminars and support groups,
programs that will encourage women’s health … what we’re trying
to do here is link that with what we are doing here in the office,"
she added.
Krockover came to UCLA in December of 1991, seeking a
professional environment where she could focus on women’s health
issues while continuing to pursue her clinical work.
Clearly her greatest achievement, said Fogelman, has been her
role in the creation of the Iris-Cantor Women’s Health Center.
"There has been a real need for an environment where women could
get optimal health care," said Krockover.
"This was an opportunity to have a center that delivered
primary-based women’s health care along with specialty services,
integrating that with research and education. UCLA is a wonderful
place to do just that,"she concluded.
"This is an opportunity to learn from each other," she said.
"Hopefully, that gets directed back to our patients."
SHAWN LAKSMI/Daily Bruin
Dr. Mitzi Krockover, who was honored at the 12th Annual Women of
the Year Awards, has used her leadership to further women’s health
care.