Jennifer Niebyl
Jennifer Niebyl, MD
SRI President, 2000-2001
During my year as president of SGI, I focused on encouraging women to go into Obstetrics and Gynecology and to take leadership roles.
In 1970, 9% of medical students were women, and it was up to 44% in 1999. In 1975 16% of ob/gyn residents were women, and it was up to 67% in 1999.
When I accepted the position as department head at the University of Iowa in 1988, I was only the fourth female department head in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the U.S.A. That had changed significantly by my presidential year.
I encouraged women to have children when they were young, when it is biologically easier. I encouraged hiring household help and back-up plans for child care. I had a full time live-in nanny when my children were young.
Before my year as SGI president, 4% of SGI presidents were women. Afterward, it was up to 25% by 2017.