Her Story
About Dawn
Dawn Morgan is a women's health researcher based in Washington, D.C. She has spent the past four years in the field after transitioning from patient advocacy work, with a focus on women who have autoimmune illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and the effects of menopause on MS. Morgan was inspired to pursue this path after her own MS diagnosis in 2000 while working as a teacher, seeking better answers for her care and that of others. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology or liberal arts and a master's degree in education, and she is currently participating in a non-degreed patient program at the University of Maryland to further support patient voices in healthcare. A typical day involves conducting research through online searches, attending meetings with researchers and physicians at university institutions, and developing healthcare provider and patient surveys as part of a women's health grant through the National MS Society examining how menopause symptoms overlap with multiple sclerosis. Morgan has been published in a major medical literary journal. She values credible scientific information from factual medical journals over pseudoscience or hearsay, and she advises young women entering the male-dominated research field to confidently demonstrate their expertise without shying away from conversations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dawn
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to not be afraid and use your voice.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
In the field of research, which is so patriarchal and male-dominated, don't be afraid to be in the same room and show your expertise and your brilliance. A lot of times women are not listened to and viewed as not knowing as much, but when it comes to our bodies we know pretty much everything. Men are not the authorities. So be the authority in your field and really hone in on that. Don't shy away from any conversations just because it's male-dominated.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Not enough research and the lack of information out there for women, particularly about women during midlife and hormonal transitions. It is difficult to find resources and in the beginning it was really hard to even get people to understand why there's a need, and that's been the biggest hurdle.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value scientific, credible information, not pseudoscience. Credible, factual medical journals and information, not hearsay or things that may have worked for someone's great-grandmother 20 or 50 years ago. I value solid information.
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