Partners win Woman of Year Award

Susan L. Chambers and Deborah L. Huff, founding partners of the area's first all-female OB/GYN physician group, are the co-winners of The Journal Record's 2002 Woman of the Year award.

Chambers and Huff were announced as the first-ever co-winners at a banquet Thursday night at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. More than 600 people attended the 22nd annual award presentation to recognize Oklahoma women for their commitment to business and community leadership. Chambers and Huff were among 50 finalists honored at the event and in the publication Fifty Making a Difference.

Lynn Martin, former congresswoman and secretary of labor for former President George H.W. Bush, was the speaker. She is chair of Deloitte & Touche's Council on the Advancement of Women, a glass- ceiling initiative that oversees corporate efforts to provide full opportunity to talented women and men. Martin is also chairwoman of "The Future of the Health Care Labor Force in a Graying Society," a University of Illinois task force.

Five women were inducted into the Woman of the Year Circle of Excellence for 2002:

* Sherry L. Dale, co-owner, vice president and chief financial officer of Express Meat Co.

* Jacqueline R. Fiegel, director, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Americrest Bank.

* Mary R. Grace, owner of Grace Commercial Real Estate Services.

* Lyn L. Hester, vice president of community services at Integris Health.

* Jean S. Lehr, owner and president of J. Lehr Advertising/ Marketing.

This special category was created to honor women who have been finalists three times.

Corporate sponsors for the Woman of the Year banquet are Americrest Bank; AT&T Wireless; Day Edwards, Propester & Christensen PC; Cox Communications; Express Professional Staffing; and OG&E Electric Services.

The 2001 winner was Linda J. Bell of Idabel. Bell is the president and manager of Martin J. Bell CPA Inc. and president of Advantage Personnel Services.

Chambers and Huff, along with Laura Mackie, established a private OB/GYN practice in 1987 despite opposition and doubt. Today, nine female physicians make up Oklahoma City Gynecology and Obstetrics, which also established Lakeside Women's Hospital in 1997.

For Chambers, who always liked science and math and wanted to be in a people-oriented profession, becoming a doctor was the perfect fit.

Chambers earned her bachelor's degree in biology at Southern Methodist University in 1978 and her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. She did her residency training in obstetrics/gynecology at the OU Health Sciences Center and teaching hospitals and is board certified in OB/GYN.

"OB/GYN is a nice combination between primary care and surgery," she said. "It's very rewarding."

Chambers is a member of the Oklahoma City OB/GYN Society, Oklahoma Medical Women's Association, Oklahoma County Medical Society, Oklahoma State Medical Society, American Medical Association, and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. She also is affiliated with the Central Oklahoma Wellness Association, OB/GYN IPA, where she was president. The chief of staff of Lakeside Women's Hospital is also on staff at Integris Baptist Medical Center and Deaconess Hospital. She is president of the Central Oklahoma Physicians Alliance, a multispecialty independent physician association, which recently started a new PPO Physician Direct, based on evidence-based medicine.

Her civic and nonprofit involvement includes serving as the March of Dimes Walk America chairperson in 2001 and 2002 and president of the World Neighbors Board of Trustees since 2000. In August, the doctor participated in Avon's three-day, 60-mile walk for breast cancer. A member of St. Luke's Methodist Church, she has served as chairman of the administrative board, management council and staff parish relation committee. In addition, she has been an Odyssey of the Mind coach for two years and a Camp Fire leader for five years, two of those as area president.

In addition to her many awards from the medical industry, the two- time finalist for The Journal Record's Woman of the Year was honored as Woman of Distinction in the medicine field by the Red Lands Council of the Girl Scouts.

She is married to Kyle Toal, M.D., and they have three school-age children.

Huff entered obstetrics and gynecology because of her desire to develop a higher level of care for females in a more patient- friendly environment.

She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's in microbiology in 1980. She received her medical degree four years later from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. She did her residency training at the Oklahoma Teaching Hospital at OU Medical Center.

Huff is also the owner and vice president of the Women's Health Boutique and owner/manager of Lakeside Hospital.

She is an active member of the Oklahoma County Medical Society, where she currently serves on the Quality Review Committee. She served on the group's board of directors from 1997-2000. Huff also is a member of the Oklahoma Medical Women's Association, serving as its president in 1995. Her other affiliations include the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Medical Association. She also has served in numerous Reference Committee positions and on the Credentials Committee of the Oklahoma State Medical Association.

Huff is involved with many civic and nonprofit organizations as well, including March of Dimes -- WalkAmerica, Deaconess Women's Home, American Cancer Society and Women Care Ministries. She also volunteers her time with the Children's Charity Ball, Christmas in April*OKC, and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She is a former member of the Habitat for Humanity and helped with the Boy Scouts of America from 1995-98.

Huff was awarded the 2000 Physician Reviewer for the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality and selected as one of America's top OB/GYNs by Consumers' Research Council of America. Her other honors include the National Leadership Award and honorary chairman for the Physician's Advisory Board, Washington, D.C.; Outstanding Resident Teaching Award in 1988; and Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society membership. The chairman of the board for Lakeside since its inception until 2001, Huff has served on the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision since 1993, serving as president in 1998.

She is married to Dr. John Huff and they have four children.

Copyright 2002
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