In Memory of Judy Shea, PhD
In March 2024, Penn and MSHP lost our beloved colleague and friend Judy Shea.
As anyone who went through the MSHP under Judy’s leadership knows, her commitment to education and to issues of equity was integral to our program. During her nine-year tenure as Co-Director she was a tireless champion for our students, as many of you know well.
Throughout her 33 years at Penn, Judy’s deep passions were medical and research education, mentoring, teaching, and student/trainee/junior-faculty career development. Her impact will be felt for generations of medical educators and health services researchers who were directly or indirectly the recipients of her insights and attention.
What many of us will miss the most about Judy is her “breath of fresh air” quality and her Nebraska-native sensibility that often cut through superficialities and conceits to touch the core of what motivates our daily work as teachers, investigators, clinicians, and administrators. This made her an incredibly effective mentor, a powerful ally, and an invaluable friend. While MSHP will find another director, we will never be able to replace what we have lost in Judy Shea.
Judy Stories
We are grateful to the many people who have reached out to share memories and stories about Judy with us- a few of these are below. In addition, DGIM put together a video thanking Judy for everything she has done for Penn and for us; you can view that video at this link.
Kyra O’Brien, MSHP 2024
Though Judy guided me in my research and education, she also looked out for me in other ways. I’m a mom of two, and I had my second child during the MSHP program. Judy always made sure to ask me how I was handling this and give suggestions for how to manage my workload so I could be there for my kids in the way that I wanted to be. When I moved to the suburbs, Judy connected me with another young mom in my new neighborhood so I could have a friend in the area and set up playdates for my kids. I am so fortunate to have had her support over the last few years.
Rose Onyeali, MSHP 2024
When I first met Judy, I realized we were two strong personalities, and I was fearful we wouldn’t get along. However, no matter what I have been through since working with her, she was always my biggest advocate and ally. I will miss our biweekly meetings and her cats interrupting her on our team meetings. I will miss her tough demeanor and miss her pushing me forward when I didn’t believe in myself. She carried me through my career since the day I met her, and I will never forget her for never giving up on me. Judy was a force and one of the most beautiful spirits I have encountered. It was an honor to work with her and I will never forget her kindness. I hope to honor her in my work and for the rest of my career.
Marilyn Schapira, Interim Director, MSHP
Judy Shea was a unique and special person. One of her gifts was the connection she made with students and colleagues. Judy could capture the essence of people and welcomed so many of us to share personal goals and aspirations as well as challenges we all face in our lives and careers. Judy was an inspiring teacher. She connected with so many MSHP students both while they were in our program and for years after-maintaining an interest in how their careers and lives were evolving. Judy also had a wonderful family who I have been happy to get to know including Shea, Michael, and John. Thank you, Judy, for all that you have contributed!
Krisda Chaiyachati, MSHP 2017
You may not have known this, but Judy LOVED Philadelphia’s sports teams. She loved the Phillies. She really adored the Eagles. It maybe a surprise that someone from the rural Midwest who geeked over Cronbach’s alpha and didn’t have a single sports pennant in her office would love sports. She did. And she loved Philadelphia’s teams.
I was fortunate in my last decade. I had many interactions with Judy –papers, the iCOMPARE study, teaching, mentoring, a nearby office, and (did I mention?) more papers. It surprised me as much as anyone that we would bond so strongly over sports.
She knew I was a lifelong Atlanta sports fan and a huge Georgia Bulldog Football fanatic. She always remembered to text me whenever our two cities played each other. More recently, she texted me whenever Georgia was in the College football playoffs. She knew what I would be doing during those games (watching them), and I always expected a text message from her, even after midnight. Yes - she liked to text.
We texted when our teams played – Braves vs. Phillies, or Falcons vs. Eagles. The Hawks just aren’t that good. She never trashed talk, though. Ina Judy way – she made it clear who she supported. She named it when her team made a bad play, she congratulated me when my team did well, and she acknowledged the honest truth about the games’ outcomes – win or lose. “I’m sorry for your loss,” when my team lost (her team won). “Next time,” when her team won, but mine had an agonizing loss. I have the text messages to prove it.
Even if the subject matter surprises you, for those who knew her well, you aren’t surprised by these behaviors.
Her spirit as a mentor and friend was being everyone’s champion, wanting the best for you and what you wanted, even if she disagreed. And she was always, always brutally honest about your chances for success, whether it was a paper or a career choice. For some, that was a tough pill to swallow. For many of us who took her honesty seriously, you knew that if you asked for her help or support, she’d give it in a heartbeat. She counseled me in research, career choices (including when I departed Penn), and being a parent. She didn’t glaze over or push to the side the hard truths. She made sure you encountered them with her full support. And whatever decision you made, she backed you.
Through our nearly decade of knowing each other, she transitioned from my teacher to mentor to my friend. She was deeply interested in my happiness, and for that, I’m so grateful. I have and will miss her presence in my life dearly. I sincerely hope to pass on the same spirit to others in the future…even if that means our sports teams are rivals.