Introducing Fearlessly Female

Panel Moderator: Donna Palomba is a nationally-recognized speaker, author, and advocate for survivors of sexual crimes. Following a harrowing home invasion and assault in 1993, Donna faced further victimization when the police department mishandled her case. Her extraordinary strength, perseverance, and leadership brought meaningful change to both police policy and Connecticut state law. In 2007, Donna’s case was the impetus for the removal of the statute of limitations on sexual crimes with DNA evidence in CT.

Donna's experience led her to found Jane Doe No More®, a nonprofit charity dedicated to empowering survivors of sexual crimes to find their voice, advance their healing and educate others. Since 2007, the organization has grown to include thriving programs including Survivors Speak™, Escape Alive Survival Skills®, Safe Student Initiative™ and an award-winning first-responder video, “Duty Trumps Doubt™,” which is used in police stations all over the country. Moving forward, Jane Doe No More will continue these critical programs while focusing on the expansion of the Survivors Speak Program, giving as many survivors as possible a voice to change their own lives and, through their transformation, educate and inspire others.

Donna’s story was featured in a two-hour show on Dateline NBC in 2007 and again in a new show in 2022, The New York Times Magazine in 2018 and is chronicled in her book, "Jane Doe No More," published in 2012.

Cristin McDermott, MD, is the Division Head of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Connecticut Children’s. Since taking on this role in January 2023, Dr. McDermott has collaborated to open Connecticut Children’s Medical/Psychiatric Inpatient Unit, the first of its kind in Connecticut, and one of a handful in the country. She has also spearheaded the growth of the Connecticut Children’s Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. McDermott’s clinical and research interests include physician well-being, pediatric hospitalist medicine, comorbid medical and psychiatric diagnoses, and medical education. Additional interests include the management of pediatric mental health emergencies in the children’s hospital setting.

Dr. McDermott graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in English Literature and earned her medical degree at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She completed her Triple Board residency (Pediatrics/Psychiatry/Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). 
In her free time, Dr. McDermott enjoys running, cycling, paddleboarding, hiking and triathlons. She enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Tracy DiGiovancarlo is a life-long resident of Waterbury, CT, and has worked for The Hartford for almost 30 years.

As a survivor of sexual assault, Tracy is compelled to raise awareness of this underreported crime. She has been involved with Jane Doe No More since 2009. As a past board member and long running volunteer, Tracy's primary focus has been raising awareness through self-defense. A second-degree Black Belt in American-Filipino Kun Tao, Tracy is a part of the collaboration between Jane Doe No More and East Coast Training Systems as an instructor of the Escape Alive (self-defense) program.

Additionally, Tracy is a member of Jane Doe No More’s first Survivors Speak Outreach Team and takes tremendous pride in helping Jane Doe No More with their fundraising efforts. In 2013, Tracy was the recipient of the Dr. Henry C. Lee Award, which is given annually by Jane Doe No More to recognize people and organizations that support survivors of sexual crimes and promote education and prevention.

Tracy is a firm believer in “everything happens for a reason” and feels she was meant to experience life the way she has. Through personal growth and finding her inner strength, Tracy has been afforded the gift to help others as they learn and grow from their own personal experiences.

Tracy's most cherished possessions are her family and friends. She and her husband Mike, a Waterbury Police Officer share two sons Michael Jr, also a Waterbury Police Officer and Angelo, who is currently serving in the US Army. Tracy's is also the proud grandmother to Jaxson. In her free time, Tracy enjoys working out, wood-working, and spending time with family and friends.