Shirley McCarthy, MD, PhD

Dr. McCarthy graduated from YSM in 1979 after completing a PhD in mammalian physiology at Cornell University. Following her graduation from medical school, she completed a residency in diagnostic radiology, and a fellowship in cross sectional imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. She returned to Yale in 1984 as an assistant professor in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, with a secondary appointment in obstetrics and gynecology.

As vice chair for academic affairs in her department, Dr. McCarthy promoted mentoring and helped junior faculty understand what it takes to be promoted. She has been awarded multiple Best Doctor awards, elected as a fellow in the International Society of Magnetic Resonance, and the Society of Body Computed Tomography.

She has been a long-time advocate for gender equity, co-organizing the senior women on the faculty in 1999 to produce the “Bill of Rights,” focusing on how to achieve gender equity. She served on the Committee on the Status of Women in Medicine for decades, co-chaired The Yale Women Faculty Forum. Under her watch, a University-wide committee was established to review cases of sexual harassment. She chaired the Medical School Council for years and has mentored numerous students, trainees and junior faculty. Dr. McCarthy became professor emeritus in 2016.