Sonnad, Seema Subash, 52, died on May 27, 2015, in Renton, Wash. Seema suffered a cardiac arrhythmia while running an ultra-marathon, and passed away at Valley Medical Center with her husband, brother and sister-in-law at her side.
Seema will be greatly missed by many. With seemingly boundless energy, she was passionate about sharing her knowledge, interests and experience with everyone around her. Seema was devoted to her career, horses and running, but shared her love of fine wine and ballroom dancing with her beloved husband and soul mate, Henry.
Seema was a dedicated researcher and prolific author. She led and participated in research leading to more than 140 peer-reviewed publications, including work in surgical outcomes, women in academic medicine, technology diffusion, meta-analysis and guidelines implementation. Seema loved teaching, but will be remembered best as a generous mentor and champion of women and minorities in science, medicine and research.
Seema was an accomplished horseback rider in the sport of three-day eventing, competing through the Intermediate level and re-training thoroughbreds off the track. She was a member of two owner syndicates for Sally Cousins and Caitlin Silliman, but true to her generous spirit and commitment to sharing her passions, Seema sponsored and mentored countless young riders over the years. She was also determined that the importance of volunteers be recognized in the sport, and in addition to being a USEF ‘r’ Eventing Technical Delegate and super volunteer in Area II, Seema was a tireless advocate for better recognition and education of volunteers.
Seema was an extraordinary athlete, a talented dancer, a lighthearted yogi and phenomenal endurance runner. In recent years, Seema enjoyed becoming part of the ultra-running community and travelled all over the country to compete with new friends.
Seema was born in Kalamazoo, Mich. on January 27, 1963. She completed her undergraduate degree at Stanford (’84), masters’ degrees at the University of Washington (’88) and Stanford (’92), and in earned her PhD in Health Services Research and Policy Analysis at Stanford (’97). Before embarking on her research career, Seema co-founded a medical diagnostics company and worked in business development at Stanford University Hospital. Her first academic appointment was at the University of Michigan where she founded and co-directed CHOICES, an outcomes research core lab for the medical school. In 2002, Seema moved to the University of Pennsylvania, where she created and directed a newly established health services research program in the Department of Surgery. Her most recent appointment signaled a change in direction towards implementation science. In her role as Director of Health Services Research at Christiana Care’s Value Institute (’12), Seema was able to combine her creativity and training with her desire to apply research findings in real-world settings, while continuing to mentor trainees and junior faculty. Seema was an active member of ISPOR and SMDM (serving in recent years as co-director of the national meeting and trustee). She served as a reviewer and advisor for NIH, AHRQ and most recently PCORI.
Seema is survived by her beloved husband of 12 years, Henry Glick, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania; by her father, Subhash Sonnad; by her brother Rahul and his wife Kathy; and by her two nieces, Emina and Hanna, and nephew Hayden.
Memorial service details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Seema Sonnad Junior Rider Development Fund, c/o USEA, Inc., 525 Old Waterford Road NW, Leesburg, VA, 20176.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Your first horse trial will be one of the most exciting and yet nerve wracking moments in your equestrian career. There is so much to do, so much to learn, and it always feels like so little time. We recently polled USEA members and asked them to share one piece of advice that they would tell themselves if they could go back in time to the morning of their first ever horse trial. Here are some of our favorite tips and tricks shared.
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) Foundation serves as the administrator for numerous grants and scholarships, including the Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grant. On the evening of Saturday, September 7, 2024, the USEA Foundation was made aware of allegations of equine abuse, which included links to videos which appear to show a recipient of a Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grant striking a horse.
When 15-year-old Sophia Lieberman first laid eyes on her dapple gray mustang Bear Necessities three years ago in Alabama, she had no idea what the future might hold for them. Lieberman and her mother, Dr. Alison LaCarrubba, DVM, were on the hunt for a new project pony, and the 14-hand gelding seemed like he might be a good fit.