Joan Blomquist

Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Dr. Joan Blomquist, chair of the Department of Gynecology and Designated Institutional Officer at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, has dedicated 30 years of clinical experience to caring for women and identifying gaps in women’s health care in the Baltimore area. Her most significant accomplishment to date is the design of a strategic plan for a new Women’s Center at GBMC — the first center in the area to combine specialized menopause care, urogynecologic services, advanced minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, pelvic floor physical therapy and collaboration with the gynecologic oncology team into one convenient location. The proposal was approved one year ago, and since then, two new physicians have been hired and integrated, the new space has been designed, and philanthropy efforts are actively underway to secure the funds to complete the needed renovations. The center will also offer patient oriented educational webinars, seminars, support groups and a podcast.

Among the mentoring relationships Blomquist holds most meaningful is one that began during a 2024 medical mission, where she met Dr. Genet, an Ethiopian urogynecologist now practicing in Rwanda. Over the two-week mission, Blomquist worked with her in the clinic and operating room, teaching surgical skills for fistula repair and prolapse surgery. After the mission, the two continued communicating about challenging clinical situations and surgical questions. When Blomquist worked with Dr. Genet again in 2025, she was amazed at the progress in her skills and confidence. Dr. Genet now performs fistula surgery on her own, only saving the most complex cases for when Blomquist’s group is in Rwanda to work with her. The two are currently working together to start a fellowship training program in Rwanda to train the next generation of providers on advanced gynecologic care.

This is an honoree profile from The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women awards. Information for this profile was sourced from the honoree’s application for the award. The honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by honoree nominations, applications and letters of recommendation. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.