Media
Changing What a Surgeon Looks Like
From a single photo to a global movement — championing gender equity in surgery, mentoring the next generation, and bringing surgical care to communities around the world.
400M+
Impressions
53+
Countries
7
Continents
The Movement
#NYerORCoverChallenge
In April 2017, illustrator Malika Favre’s New Yorker cover depicted four female surgeons from the patient’s perspective. Dr. Pitt saw the cover and challenged women surgeons worldwide to recreate it.
The response was immediate and extraordinary. Within days, women surgeons on every continent were posting their own versions, creating a powerful visual statement about who belongs in the operating room.
The challenge was covered by CNN, The New Yorker, the Washington Post, CBS News, BuzzFeed, HuffPost, Elle France, and hundreds of other outlets worldwide — reaching over 400 million people across 53 countries on all 7 continents.


Impressions
Countries
Continents
Press & Media
Featured In
Leadership
Women in Medicine
Dr. Pitt is a dedicated advocate for gender equity in surgery, serving in leadership roles that advance opportunities for women at every career stage.
- Chair, Michigan Women’s Surgical Collaborative
- Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Department of Surgery
- AMWA Exceptional Mentor Award (2018)
- Endocrine Care Innovation Award, AACE (2025)
- Published on gender equity in surgery in Academic Medicine and JAMA Network Open
- 46+ trainees mentored across medical students, residents, and fellows
- Founded and led the viral #NYerORCoverChallenge reaching 53+ countries
“We don’t just need more women in surgery. We need to change the systems that make it harder for them to stay.”
Service
Global Surgical Missions
Dr. Pitt extends her surgical expertise beyond the walls of academic medicine through international mission work, providing critical surgical care to underserved communities.

East Africa
Kenya Relief
Providing essential surgical care to communities in East Africa with limited access to trained surgeons and medical infrastructure.
Central & South America
Compañero Cirugía
Partnering with local medical teams across Central and South America to deliver surgical care and build sustainable clinical capacity.