"The story of women in surgical leadership in the Bay Area begins with Dr. Nancy Ascher, who became Chair of Surgery at UCSF in 1999, making her one of just four female chairs in the United States at the time. A world-renowned transplant surgeon, revered for her sharp clinical acumen and technical prowess in the operating room, Dr. Ascher led UCSF by example from 1999-2016. During this time, she also grew the Department into an oasis for female surgeons, with women currently representing more than 30% of the faculty and over 50% of the trainees in the surgical residency.
In 2018, Dr. Julie Ann Sosa became Chair of Surgery at UCSF, making her the first woman to succeed another female chair of surgery in the country. She joined the local company of Dr. Diana Farmer, Chair of Surgery at UCD since 2011, and Dr. Mary Hawn, who was named Chair of Surgery at Stanford in 2015."