10 Feb Advocate for Medicine, Dr. Alicia Billington
Business and Professional Women of St. Petersburg–Pinellas for our February 5 luncheon welcomed an extraordinary speaker, Dr. Alicia Billington. A proud St. Petersburg native, Dr. Billington brings an inspiring blend of innovation, leadership, and advocacy to her work. Dr. Billington, holds a Master of Engineering degree in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University. She achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first dual degree MD, PhD graduate in Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. With board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), she completed a six-year integrated Plastic Surgery Residency at the University of South Florida, serving as a Chief Resident.
Dr. Billington’s research spans HIV clinical trials, product development, and even an internship at NASA as a SHARP Intern. She is a published author in plastic surgery and health policy, and actively engages in advocacy at various levels, including speaking at a Congressional Hill briefing and serving on the American Society of Plastic Surgery Healthcare and Legislative Advocacy Committees.
She spoke not only of her success advocating for medical care and coverage both locally and nationally but her failures along the way, highlighting the importance of persistance. She interwove valuable information about breast cancer detection and treatment expertly as she created a complex picture of the challenges in navigating our healthcare system.