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NIAID's Woodford Retires

Joyce Hunter Woodford began her career with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 1989, working for the budget office. Her background in finance was invaluable to the institute and her contributions to NIAID were numerous. Aside from her duties as financial manager, Woodford always sought to become involved in minority health issues. Her interest in these matters came not only from the influence of her father, who worked in an NIH intramural lab, but also from Woodford's own personal commitment. Her strong sense of duty also included mentoring many co-workers.

Woodford joined NIAID's Office of Research on Minority and Women's Health in 1994, in the Office of Special Populations and Research Training. She developed, or was a key player, in several initiatives. She made the Introduction to Biomedical Research Program run smoothly for all the years she was associated with it. Together with Dr. Richard Asofsky, she worked tirelessly on this program, and is responsible for giving opportunities to many young minority scientists in the U.S. Woodford was also the catalyst behind the development and implementation of the mentoring program, Bridging the Career Gap, in 1992.

The publication A Partnership for Health: Minorities and Biomedical Research came about because of Woodford's collaboration with Dr. Lawrence Prograis, and describes NIAID's initiatives in minority health, for which she and Prograis received a PHS award. The document is published every 2 years and is distributed to members of Congress and within HHS and NIH.

Woodford spearheaded the Asofsky Scholars in Research program, which addresses the pipeline of minority high school and undergraduate students interested in science. Most recently she was involved in middle school science fairs and career fairs in local Maryland counties. Woodford will be remembered fondly for her enthusiasm, her commitment, her professionalism, as well as for her warmth and laughter.