DONNA L. BLOCK, M.D.
Age: 59 Position: Founded Clinic Sofia, a women's health clinic in Edina, in 2004.
Background: After working as an audiologist, decided to go to medical school at the University of Minnesota when she was 32. She completed her residency in 1991, a week before turning 40.
Business training: She earned an MBA at the University of St. Thomas in 2005 to better understand the intersection of business and medicine.
The clinic: Offers obstetrics and gynecology care plus other health and wellness support. The clinic has produced instructional DVDs on such things as breast feeding and mind-body balance for busy moms. Named after the Greek Goddess Sophia, the symbol of women's wisdom.
Guiding principle: Inspired by Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General, in a 2004 speech to the International Women's Health Coalition: "When women are fully involved, the benefits can be seen immediately: families are healthier; they are better fed; their income, savings and reinvestment go up. And what is true of families is true of communities and, eventually, of whole countries."
