Alumna talks about saving young women's lives in Africa 

November 2, 2006

Marcella Roenneburg with a 14-year-old fistural patient
in Niger

On Friday, Nov. 3, Marcella Roenneburg '76 will give a lecture at noon in Upham Hall room 145 to present her findings and experience helping young women in Niger and Bangladesh.

Roenneburg is a urogynecologist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Her greatest accomplishments in the medical field, though, have been traveling to Niger and Bangladesh to help and operate on young women who have vesicovaginal fistulas, or holes between the bladder and vagina. This condition comes from childbearing wounds. It affects 2.5 million African women and causes these women to be outcasts in their society.

"Her story provides inspiration for students pursuing careers in the sciences who want to make a difference in the world," said Mary Pinkerton, interim dean of the College of Letters and Sciences. "She is a very intelligent and accomplished woman, motivated by a keen desire to serve the less fortunate."

Roenneburg is very dedicated to her work and often puts in 12-hour days. She is also a UW-Whitewater Science Alliance member. "Science Alliance members are friends and alumni of the university," said Kate Loftus, senior development specialist of the College of Letters and Sciences. "They are civic leaders, individuals with expertise and knowledge that can be extremely beneficial to students and faculty in the sciences. Their relationship to the college is one of dedication and affection." Roenneburg is indeed dedicated to many areas of her life.

"Her visit and lecture are an indication of her ongoing connection to the university and the value she attaches to the education she received here," Pinkerton said. "We are proud to have an alumna of her caliber who is willing to return and share her experiences and expertise."