Robert E Cook Honors College Women I...( Despite the ...),Health

Despite the commitments of pursuing years of education, completing specialized training and practicing medicine in fields once dominated by men, alumna of the Robert E. Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania influence and enhance their chosen field of medicine every day.

Indiana, PA (PRWEB) July 16, 2008 -- Each day brings patients with different needs to Rebecca Pounds, who appreciates the variety of procedures, patient interaction and the business end of running her downtown Pittsburgh dental practice.

"I love going to work everyday," said Rebecca Pounds, 28, a general and cosmetic dentist and a 2001www.iup.edu/honors [Robert E Cook Honors College alumna from Punxsutawney. "I really enjoy the variety of things that I get to do during the day as a general dentist. I enjoy the variety of procedures that I perform. I look forward to the conversations and interactions that we have. I also enjoy the business aspect of owning my own practice. I have had to learn a lot about business in a short period of time, but I have wonderful mentors that are helping me out with a lot of this which makes learning the business side of dentistry much more enjoyable."

For Cara Ruggeri, a Resident in internal medicine at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, PA, saving lives far outweighs the pressure of balancing family commitments and a career wrought with emotional and difficult moments. "Many times you feel under-appreciated and disrespected but those times are easily forgotten," said Ruggeri, 29, a 2000 IUP alumna. "It is the times where one little thing said or done by your patient makes it all worth it, such as "You saved my life, doctor." The hardest part now is balancing career time and family time. It is a huge sacrifice one makes going into medicine."

Ruggeri, who resides in Hellertown, PA, with her husband, Joseph
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