Longtime Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Member Roxanne Roberts, MD, FCCM, was recently recognized by the Chicago Sun-Times as one of the top 10 most powerful women in Chicago healthcare.

Those acknowledged were selected based on their unrelenting commitment to the advancement of not only patients, but also that of their fellow nurses, physicians and other healthcare providers. The Sun-Times stated, “Ultimately, they set the standard for how healthcare is delivered across the city and the nation.”

Dr. Roberts was both surprised and honored to be included in the list of powerful women. “It is credit to be associated with a group of high powered women whom really respect,” she says. “When read the others’ accomplishments, was humbled to be included.”

As an intern in 1980, Dr. Roberts began her ascent up the Cook County Trauma Unit ladder. At that time, she was one of the few female trauma surgeons in the country and the only one at Cook County Hospital. Today, Dr. Roberts is department chair of trauma and director of the Trauma Unit at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, formerly known as Cook County Hospital.

“Being department chair of trauma is something I never dared dream about,” says Dr. Roberts. “The farthest I thought I could go with my career was to be director of the trauma ICU.”

Dr. Roberts’ career has included more than critical care and surgery. In her work on handgun control, Dr. Roberts has testified in front of the United States Senate regarding the increased physical devastation caused by newly developed handguns and semiautomatic weapons.

An active SCCM member, Dr. Roberts has been involved in SCCM’s review course planning and lecturing, and has been a guest editor for SCCM’s annual critical care review course book. Dr. Roberts received a bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco and a medical degree from the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle, Washington. She completed an internship and residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.