NEWS

Former astronaut to speak to businesswomen

Staff reports

BRENTWOOD – Former astronaut Dr. Rhea Seddon, a veteran of three space shuttle missions, will speak to the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business on Sept. 16.

The luncheon is scheduled from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road.

In 1978, Seddon was selected as one of the first six women to enter the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s astronaut program. She flew aboard her first shuttle flight in 1985, deployed two satellites, operated the shuttle’s remote manipulator arm and performed the first echocardiography in space. In 1991, she was selected to serve as a mission specialist on the first shuttle flight dedicated entirely to life sciences research, Spacelab Life Sciences 1. In 1993, she was the payload commander in charge of all science activities on Spacelab Life Sciences 2.

During her 19-year career with NASA, Seddon spent a total of 30 days in space.

After leaving NASA, she served as the assistant chief medical officer of the Vanderbilt Medical Group in Nashville and as assistant professor of medical administration and education at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine for 11 years, where she led an initiative aimed at improving patient safety, quality of care and team effectiveness by using an aviation-based model of crew resource management. Now with LifeWings Partners, LLC, Seddon teaches this concept to health care institutions across the United States.

The luncheon costs $20 for chamber members and $25 for guests, with a $5 late fee added for reservations beginning at noon Sept. 12. To register, visit www.williamsonchamber.com.