WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Professor Naomi Chaytor, PhD, ABPP, has been named Washington State University’s 2025 Woman of the Year in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of neuropsychology and unwavering commitment to advancing equity and excellence in medical education.
The honor is awarded annually by the WSU President’s Commission on the Status of Women during National Women’s History Month for contributions not only to the academic and local community but also to society.
“Dr. Chaytor exemplifies the highest ideals of this prestigious award through her exceptional academic accomplishments, visionary leadership, and tireless commitment to empowering women and fostering equity,” wrote WSU College of Medicine Associate Professor Oladunni Oluwoye, PhD, in her nomination. “She has mentored countless faculty, primarily women faculty members, offering guidance and resources to help them navigate the challenges of academia and achieve their professional goals.”
Dr. Chaytor’s remarkable career spans two decades. After practicing as a board-certified neuropsychologist and teaching at the University of Washington School of Medicine, she joined the WSU faculty in 2015 as a founding faculty member of the College of Medicine and now serves as chair of the Department of Community and Behavioral Health.
“As a department chair, I have the opportunity, and responsibility, to create an environment that encourages everyone to succeed,” Dr. Chaytor said.
A national leader in her field, Dr. Chaytor’s innovative and extensive research has advanced our understanding of the neuropsychology of type 1 diabetes and paved the way for improved disease management and quality of life for millions of individuals worldwide. Her work explores critical areas including glycemic control, cognitive performance, and technology use, especially for older adults with type 1 diabetes. Her experience as a person with type 1 diabetes has shaped her research career and driven her to investigate questions she couldn’t find answers to, she said.
In addition to her work as a clinician and researcher, Dr. Chaytor is a dedicated teacher and mentor who has championed initiatives to increase representation and inclusion across the college and university. A founding member of the Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) at the college, she has served as chair for the WSU College of Medicine Equity Committee and a member of the WSU Health Sciences Campus Executive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, shaping policy across health professions education at WSU.
“Dr. Chaytor has had a profound impact on shaping and promoting equitable practices in the medical school, particularly in support of junior faculty who are women and/or people of color,” wrote nominator Liat Kriegel, PhD, MSW, an assistant professor at the college. “As junior faculty in the department, Dr. Chaytor has more than once stepped up to advocate for me as I navigated the many obstacles and challenges of early career academia as a mother and a woman.”
Assistant Professor Julianne Jett, PhD, can attest to the profound impact of Dr. Chaytor’s mentorship and generous sharing of knowledge.
“Dr. Chaytor’s passion for mentoring early career investigators and efforts to establish equitable processes for promotion has been invaluable to my career,” she said. “During my postdoctoral fellowship, her mentorship was key to transitioning my preclinical background in cognition to clinical research. I had a lot of self-doubt when I returned to research, and Dr. Chaytor’s confidence in me as a scientist has been fundamental to my perseverance.”
Dr. Chaytor’s work has earned numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Contribution to Equity Award from the College of Medicine in 2023 and the Chancellor’s Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award in 2021. In 2019, she was selected as the inaugural fellow for the Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience at WSU.
She will be recognized with this year’s Women of Distinction awardees at a ceremony in Pullman at the Lewis Alumni Center on March 24. Please join us in celebrating their achievements and contributions to inclusivity and academic excellence within the WSU community.