Former astronaut Rhea Seddon, MD, a graduate of the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has been inducted into the Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame.

Founded in 2010, the Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame has honored the achievements of women who have contributed to the cultural, economic and political well-being of Tennessee.

In 1975, Seddon was one of the first women accepted into the general surgery residency at UTHSC. She was one of the first six female astronaut candidates selected by NASA in January 1978. She became an astronaut in August 1979 and went on to spend 19 years with NASA, completing three space shuttle flights (’85, ’91, ’93), and logging a total of 30 days in space.

After her career with NASA, Dr. Seddon spent 11 years serving as the assistant chief medical officer at the Vanderbilt Medical Group in Nashville.