The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) is proud to celebrate one of our own.
AMWA member Dr. Lyndsay Hoy has been named a semifinalist in the 2026 Be Well Philly Health Hero Challenge, an annual recognition honoring individuals who are making an extraordinary impact on the health of their communities.
A board-certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Hoy was diagnosed with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)—a rare, progressive lung disease that almost exclusively affects women—while completing her anesthesiology residency. Rather than allowing that diagnosis to define her future, she transformed her experience into a mission to advance research, educate clinicians, support patients and families, and advocate for women living with rare diseases.
Dr. Hoy has become an important voice within AMWA’s growing efforts to shine a light on the unique challenges women face with rare diseases. At the 2026 AMWA Annual Meeting, her presentation helped attendees better understand the intersection of rare diseases and women’s health.
She also shared her expertise with the Reproductive Health Coalition (co-founded by AMWA), discussing the complex reproductive decisions faced by women living with rare diseases. Drawing from both her personal journey and her work with The LAM Foundation, Dr. Hoy highlighted the experience many patients encounter regarding fertility, pregnancy, and long-term health—areas where evidence is often limited and clinical guidance remains sparse. Her insights have helped inform AMWA’s ongoing advocacy to improve care for women with rare diseases.
Dr. Hoy’s recognition is also an opportunity to raise awareness of AMWA’s Women and Rare Disease Initiative, which seeks to bring greater attention to conditions that disproportionately affect women but are frequently underrecognized, understudied, or diagnosed too late. Collectively, rare diseases affect millions of Americans, and women often bear a disproportionate burden—not only as patients, but also as caregivers and advocates.
We congratulate Dr. Hoy on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for continuing to inspire our community.
Voting is open through July 31. We encourage the AMWA community to cast a daily vote for Dr. Hoy while helping amplify awareness of women and rare diseases—an issue that deserves greater attention throughout medicine.