UConn Health’s Dr. Rebecca Andrews is among this year’s recipients of the American Medical Women’s Association’s INSPIRE Award, which recognizes women physicians who have a positive impact on their peers.

Andrews is a professor of medicine in the UConn School of Medicine and serves as the UConn Internal Medicine Residency Program’s associate program director as well as its director of ambulatory education.

The annual award recognizes women physicians “who inspire others because of their dedication to health care, compassion for patients, leadership, advocacy, or community service,” according to the AMWA. Colleagues, mentees, supervisors, students, or collaborators can nominate for the INSPIRE Award, which goes back to 2021. Andrews is one of 27 awardees for 2024.

“They are lauded for their leadership and mentorship in practice, research and academic accomplishments, and most importantly, their impact in supporting and advancing the culture and community of women in medicine,” says Dr. Nicole Sandhu, past president of AMWA and co-chair of its leadership council.

The AMWA is a multispecialty organization of women physicians and physician trainees, founded in 1915 with a mission of advancing women in medicine, advocating for equity, and ensuring excellence in women’s health.

“This award in particular is very special to me,” Andrews says. “I have made a point my entire career of lifting other women physicians up as a few special mentors have done for me. Placing other women in the path of opportunity and supporting them has become one of the most rewarding facets of my professional work.”

AMA Honors

Separately, the American Medical Association (AMA) has recognized Andrews with one of its Women Physicians Section’s 2024 Inspiration Awards. She’s among 56 physicians so honored by the AMA for making a lasting impact on the careers of fellow physicians, residents and students.

Coincidentally, it was Dr. Eileen Barrett, the president-elect of the AMWA, who nominated Andrews for the AMA award.

“Dr. Andrews is an inspiring and inspired medical educator, physician leader, mentor and sponsor,” Barrett says. “She is a brilliant, thoughtful, and successful leader, who models inclusion, creative and critical thinking. She is also widely feted as a leader in her home state of Connecticut, including receiving multiple leadership appointments and teaching and mentorship awards. She has countless mentees who admire her, and countless peers who learn from her daily — of whom I count myself.”

Andrews and Barrett met through their work with the American College of Physicians, a group Andrews first became involved with two decades ago as a medical student. Next spring, Andrews starts a one-year term as chair of the ACP’s board of regents.

“It is immensely humbling to read a respected colleague’s nominating words,” Andrews says. “I have a passion for creating practical innovations to realize what might be possible in medicine – both from the viewpoint of a career and providing care. I hope the award highlights the excellence of UConn Health and our other amazing physicians are named in the future for their work.”

The AMA’s Women Physician Section seeks to increase the number and influence of women physicians in leadership roles, and to influence and contribute to AMA policy and program development on issues of importance to women physicians.

Andrews is a 2002 graduate of the UConn School of Medicine and a 2006 graduate of the internal medicine residency program that today she helps lead. She also is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a community of more than 45,000 medical students, physicians, and other leaders who’ve been recognized for their compassionate care.