Diana L. Farmer is an American pediatric surgeon. She is the Pearl Stamps Stewart Professor of Surgery and chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of California, Davis and surgeon-in-chief of UC Davis Children's Hospital. In 2010, Farmer was inducted as a fellow into the Royal College of Surgeons of England, becoming the second woman surgeon from the United States to receive this honor.
Diana L. Farmer | |
|---|---|
| Spouse |
Charles Cauldwell (m. 1983) |
| Academic background | |
| Education | BSc, marine studies and molecular biology, 1977, Wellesley College MD, University of Washington School of Medicine |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | University of California, Davis University of California, San Francisco |
Early life and education
editFarmer grew up in Chicago and Boise, Idaho, to a flight attendant mother and Navy fighter pilot father.[1] Her grandfather was a surgeon in Nebraska who graduated from the now defunct National University of St. Louis.[2] Upon completing her Bachelor of Science degree in marine sciences and molecular biology from Wellesley College, Farmer conducted research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.[3] As a result, she was named a Rhodes Scholar finalist. While driving to her interview, she was involved in a car accident and chose to pursue a career in medicine while recovering from her injuries.[1] She earned her M.D. from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 1983, where she also completed her internship.[4] She finished her residency at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 1993 where she was introduced to fetal surgery.[1] After a surgical fellowship in Michigan, Farmer was awarded a Luce Scholarship to study medicine in Asia and moved to Singapore with her husband.[3]
Career
editIn 1988, Farmer returned to UCSF and became the first female fetal surgeon.[1] As the UCSF Children’s Hospital Surgeon-in-Chief, Farmer’s research interests include fetal therapy interventions for myelomeningocele and other birth defects. In January 2010, Farmer was inducted as a fellow into the Royal College of Surgeons of England, becoming the second woman surgeon from the United States to receive this honor.[5] The following year, she was also elected a Member of the National Academy of Medicine.[6]
Upon joining the faculty of University of California, Davis, Farmer became the Pearl Stamps Stewart Professor of Surgery and chair of the Department of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief of UC Davis Children's Hospital. In February 2019, she was elected to the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons.[7] While serving in these roles, Farmer continued her research into curing spina bifida. In 2019, Farmer and Aijun Wang identified exosomes and galectin 1 as key to protecting neurons and ultimately reducing the lower-limb paralysis associated with the birth defect.[8] Due to her research, Farmer won a 2020 U21 Award for advancing global perspectives in her field.[9] She was later awarded a grant to co-launch the world’s first human clinical trial using stem cells to treat spina bifida with Aijun Wang.[10] The following year, Farmer became the third woman named president-elect of the American Surgical Association.[11]
Personal life
editFarmer married her husband Charles Cauldwell in 1983.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Allday, Erin (May 23, 2010). "UCSF fetal surgeon helps little guys everywhere". SFGate. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Towle, Mimi (July 16, 2010). "Diana Farmer, M.D. of San Rafael". Marin Magazine. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Vaughan, Chris (June 2003). "Diana Farmer: Seasoned Surgeon". UCSF Magazine. Archived from the original on September 14, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Diana L. Farmer, M.D." University of California, Davis. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "UCSF Pediatric Surgeon to be Inducted into Royal College of Surgeons". University of California, San Francisco. January 12, 2010. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Fernandez, Elizabeth (October 17, 2011). "Five UCSF Scientists Named to Institute of Medicine". University of California, San Francisco. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Farmer becomes a regent of the American College of Surgeons". University of California, Davis. November 14, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Researchers seeking a cure for spina bifida get a step closer to their goal". University of California, Davis. March 5, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Diana Farmer recognized for global leadership". University of California, Davis. November 21, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "State stem cell agency funds clinical trial for spina bifida treatment". University of California, Davis. November 12, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "UC Davis Health surgery chair to lead prestigious organization". University of California, Davis. April 22, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.