Activities:
I have been to every continent, including Antarctica, and have explored many remote regions, including the Amazon jungle and Sahara desert in North Africa - favorite animals on these journeys include penguins and an adorable camel that I rode through the desert to watch the sunrise on No. Africa's highest sand dune. I have also climbed the Great Wall of China from the Yellow Sea towards Mongolia. Along the way, I've often provided medical care to local communities and to fellow travelers, including one female passenger who collapsed on top of my seat on a flight across the Atlantic. I always travel with a mini medical bag in my backpack or purse! I recently returned from a fact-finding tour through SE Asia (including Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China) and had a chance to visit orphanages and hospitals along the way -- the plight of women and girls needs greater awareness and assistance.

Sports Activities:
I love to try anything at least once. I grew up in Colorado, so physical activity has always been a part of my life -- from skiing (including cross country skiing to school as a child), to riding mountain bikes, tennis, and golf (albeit very poorly -- I recently lost a game to an 8-year-old). I love to hike and trek, and have walked for two weeks across the Alps in Provence from town to town, tasting great food and wines along the way.

Gardening:
I love to garden -- to pull weeds, plant flowers, and occasionally mow the lawn (good physical activity). My neighbors know when it has been a stressful week because I will be outside pulling weeds and trimming shrubs! It's a wonderful way to relax, get some Vitamin D, and actually accomplish something.

Favorite Books:
I love to read biographies, autobiographies, historical novels, science fiction, and occasional "new agey" self help books. Two of my favorite books include, Jeff Shaara’s Rise to Rebellion and Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff (a true classic). The challenge I always face is that I have so much to read for work -- journals piling high on every free space in my house -- that sometimes I feel guilty reading a fun novel. Good for the plane or train, though!

Favorite Quote:
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less."

Personal:
I, like so many women, play many roles in life. Some days it's easier to combine them all, and some days it's a challenge to just be one -- a doctor, daughter, or friend. On March 17, 2008, my life took a turn as I learned that my mom has inoperable pancreatic cancer. This journey has taken us through many valleys and occasional peaks. We live day to day knowing that every day is a gift: to see a new sunset or sunrise, to share a wonderful meal with family, to take a walk, to just talk. I have often lived my life at 17,000 miles/hour, but when I go back home to Denver to be with my parents, which I try to do every few weeks now, life is lived in minutes and by hugs. I am amazed and humbled by my mother's courage, strength, and energy. She has taught me more about medicine and the human spirit than any textbook or lecture. I cherish every moment.

displayname
Saralyn Mark, M.D.

professional background

Saralyn Mark, M.D., is an endocrinologist, geriatrician, and women's health specialist. For 10 years, Dr. Mark served as the first Senior Medical Advisor to the Office on Women's Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She remains a physician consultant to NASA and other agencies and organizations.

Dr. Mark completed her residency in internal medicine and fellowships at the University of California, San Francisco. Following private practice in San Francisco, Dr. Mark returned to UCSF where she designed and completed one of the country's first Women's Health fellowships. She also conducted clinical research studies in the areas of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and lipids.

Dr. Mark chaired or served on over 50 national and international advisory and editorial boards, commissions and task forces. Dr. Mark has received numerous awards for public service and innovation in healthcare.

Degrees:

• M.D., New York University School of Medicine
• B.A., with honors, Barnard College of Columbia University

Associations:

• President, SolaMed Solutions, LLC
• Senior Scientific Policy Advisor, The Cook Group
• Physician Consultant, Dynamic Corporation, Innovative Health Applications, LLC
• Senior Medical Advisor, NASA
• Permanent Consultant, NASA Medical Policy Board
• Associate Clinical Professor adjunct, Yale and Georgetown University Schools of Medicine, Departments of Medicine & OB/GYN
• Distinguished Sr. Fellow and Affiliate Professor, George Mason University School of Public Policy
• Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners
• Member, Health Advisory Committee, Barack Obama Presidential Campaign
• Member, UN Council on Gender-based Health
• Member, Federal Work Group on Bone Diseases, NIH
• Member,W.O.M.E.N. Inc. Board of Directors
• Member, Hadassah Health Advisory Council
• Advisor/Former Chair, National Task Force on Reentry into Clinical Practice
• Former Member, Surgeon General Physician Advisory Committee
• Former Member, WHO Global Commission on Women's Health
• Former Member, Pan American Health Organization Special Subcommittee on Women's Health
• Former Member, President's Interagency Council on Women
• Former Member, National Committee for Quality Assurance Advisory Panel for Women's Health
• Former Chair, Subcommittee on Exogenous Hormones for the Federal Interagency Work Group on Women's Health and the Environment
• Former Chair, National Task Force on Mentoring in Academic Medicine

Publications:

• Contributing editor to ME Magazine
• Chapter Author, Cleveland Clinic Press book on impact of sex/gender on musculoskeletal disease and space travel
• Currently at work on a book on health and wellness for women
• Leading scientific and medical journals including the Journal of the American Medical Association, Academic Medicine, and Journal of American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons