Women Leading PAMED: Highlighting Board Leadership During Women’s History Month

 In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Pennsylvania Medical Society is highlighting the leadership of three physicians serving in key roles on the PAMED Board of Trustees. Lorraine Rosamilia, MD, FAAD Board Chair; Ashley Wilkerson, MD Board Vice Chair; and Renee Frank, MD Board Secretary each bring a distinct professional background and personal perspective to their work on behalf of physicians across the Commonwealth. Their experiences in clinical practice, patient advocacy, and medical education inform the decisions they help guide at PAMED and reflect the diverse strengths women leaders contribute to organized medicine.

Lorraine Rosamilia, MD, FAAD, Board Chair  

How does your personal experience help guide you in your career in medicine? In medicine, good communication and closing the loop are two of the most important facets for good patient care, whether it is with the patients, your staff, or your colleagues.  When you see the 'spark' in any of their expressions and reactions, the realization that something has become more clear, it drives everyone toward success.  At the bedside, I have made this my goal in every patient encounter.  This 'grassroots' philosophy, by meeting the person I'm healing, collaborating with, or leading at a level that everyone can understand and be inspired by, builds relationships that earn trust and respect.  This curates a career at the bedside and in organized medicine that drives not only good health, but (hopefully) meaningful healthcare changes.

Why did you make the decision to run for a board position, and what does success look like to you during your tenure?

Leaders I admire who have given time and passion to PAMED inspired me.  Also, very few physicians in rural areas of the state are involved in organized medicine, and I'm proud when we advocate in Harrisburg and DC with physicians in many specialties from all parts of the state. 

'Success'...depends on the day!  I think transparent communication, fair policies, and energizing initiatives give physicians inspiration to look up from their charts and busy days and see that there are ways to keep improving healthcare for patients and care teams.  I hope that's what we are doing and can continue to do.

Ashley Wilkerson, MD, Board Vice Chair

How does your personal experience help guide you in your career in medicine?

What is the personal 'why' behind your advocacy—the experience that keeps you fighting for change when the clinical days get long?

OBGYN is a field where the highs are high and the lows are low. Delivering a new baby is joyful, while guiding a family through a loss or other devastating outcome is an experience that is often hard to fully process well after a hospital shift has ended. A number of years ago, I met with a legislator for the first time to talk about what my patients have experienced and how we can make policy changes to reduce or prevent some of the complications they face. This meeting, and many others that eventually followed, helped me to feel empowered to work for my patients in a different way. I still feel the pain of my patients when they face difficult pregnancies, but I also find strength in knowing that by sharing their collective stories with people who make policy, we can work to improve our system. Having that outlet for change makes the hard days a little easier to bear.

Why did you make the decision to run for a board position and what does success look like to you during your tenure?

Running for a Board position was not on my radar until I received a message from a friend, asking me if I would consider putting my name on the ballot. I reached out to Board members to learn more about the role, and I was excited at the opportunity to be part of a team making decisions which would further strengthen and grow our Medical Society. My hope is that during my tenure on the Board, we will create new ways to additionally engage physicians across the Commonwealth, particularly in the area of advocacy. We are the experts on how best to care for our patients. The healthcare landscape is changing rapidly, and it is critical that our voices and our expertise are front and center in the conversations shaping this landscape.

Renee Frank, MD, Board Treasurer

 How does your personal experience help guide you in your career in medicine?

Growing up in Northeast Pennsylvania I saw firsthand how representation can shape health outcomes in profound ways. I remained in PA for my education and medical training. These experiences never left me, and it became the foundation of both why I chose medicine and how I practice it.

My specialty is pathology, where I mainly work behind the scenes to deliver the answers that drive clinical decisions. However, I've always seen my role as extending beyond the microscope and the laboratory. Every diagnosis I render belongs to a real patient, often someone navigating important moments of their life. That awareness keeps me grounded. It pushes me to communicate clearly with my physician colleagues, to educate and advocate for patients and physicians, and to remember that the work we do as physicians is never abstract — it is deeply, fundamentally human.

Why did you make the decision to run for a board position, and what does success look like to you during your tenure?

I decided to run for PAMED Board of Trustees and for Board secretary because I believe that the physicians who are most passionate about their patients and their colleagues should be the ones helping to shape the future of our profession — and I didn't want to wait for someone else to fill that role. Success in this role to me looks like a few things. First, championing initiatives that strengthen the quality and accessibility of patient care. Second, helping shape policies and standards that reflect the realities of modern medical practice. Lastly, investing in the next generation of physicians. I want to be a resource and a mentor for physicians in training and other physicians. If I can leave a footprint on the PA medical society, I hope it includes a strong, inclusive society that is equipped to serve both physicians and patients both now and in the future.

Together, Drs. Rosamilia, Wilkerson, and Frank represent a leadership team committed to strengthening the voice of Pennsylvania physicians and advancing policies that support high‑quality patient care. Their paths into board service differ, but each shares a clear dedication to improving the practice environment and ensuring that PAMED remains responsive to the needs of its members. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, their contributions underscore the essential role of women physicians in shaping the future of medicine in Pennsylvania.