Two Women Academics Inducted Into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame

The Women in Technology International Hall of Fame recently inducted five new members at a ceremony in San Jose, California. The WITI Hall of Fame was established in 1996 to recognize, honor, and promote the outstanding contributions women make to the scientific and technological communities that improve society. Each year, five women are selected from around the world to receive this honor, and the five new inductees now join the ranks of other scientists, engineers, and CEOs who have made an impact on society through their exceptional contributions to advancing their fields of inquiry.

“We launched the Women in Technology Hall of Fame in 1996, at a time when there were no platforms showcasing the contributions of women in technology,” said Carolyn Leighton, chair and founder of WITI. “Since then, more than 100 exceptional women have been selected for this award. These Women in Technology Hall of Fame inductees inspire future generations to reach higher, push boundaries, and create breakthroughs that will positively impact our future.”

Two of the new inductees have current academic ties in the United States.

Natalia Trayanova is a professor in the department of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. She being is honored for her outstanding contributions she has made to the scientific and technological communities. Through her research, she has pioneered the use of 3D virtual heart models that are personalized using data from individual patients with ventricular or atrial fibrillation, two types of irregular heartbeats. These models help researchers predict who is at risk for sudden death or stroke from these conditions, as well as determine the optimal patient-specific treatments for these disorders. Dr. Trayanova holds a Ph.D. from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Sara Rushinek is professor of business technology and health informatics at the University of Miami. Her research interests include computer applications for decision-making; electronic stock trading systems; internet and e-commerce security of enterprise resource management; expert systems for Internet applications; virtual internet web-based office software; expert witness testimony and computer litigation support training. Dr. Rushinek has been on the faculty at the University of Miami since 2000. She is a graduate of Tel Aviv University in Israel. She earned a Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin.