Women's Health Updates — April 2024

This newsletter features information about women's health research, menopause, obesity, and more!



Read about recent developments in women's health as well as SWHR's activities that promote the study of sex and gender influences on health and serve our mission to improve women's health through science, policy, and education.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ADVANCE WOMEN’S HEALTH RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Following his 2024 State of the Union address calling for a $12 billion investment in #WomensHealth research and the release of the fiscal year 2025 President’s Budget, President Biden on Monday, March 18 released an Executive Order directing “the most comprehensive set of executive actions ever taken to expand and improve women’s health research.” Read about the latest updates on the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research on the SWHR blog.

SWHR CONGRATULATES 2024 SWHR EMERGING SCHOLAR AWARDEES

SWHR is thrilled to announce the three SWHR Emerging Scholars in Women’s Health Research Awardees for 2024, who will present their research at the SWHR Emerging Scholars in Women’s Health Research Award Symposium at the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) Annual Meeting this summer.

Congratulations Jessica L. Bradshaw, PhD, Rachel Gilfarb, MS, and Mabel Seto, PhD! These scholars demonstrate demonstrate research excellence in addressing important knowledge gaps in health and disease areas that disproportionately, differently, or exclusively affect women. This inaugural year for the award centers on Aging & Women’s Health. Learn more about the awardees, the symposium, and the OSSD meeting online here.

HAPPENING THIS MONTH! JOIN US AT THE SWHR ANNUAL AWARDS GALA

Join SWHR for the 2024 Annual Awards Gala on April 25, 2024. The Society will recognize Janine Austin Clayton, MD, FARVO (NIH Office of Research on Women's Health), Maria Shriver (Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic) and Shontelle Dodson, PharmD (Astellas Pharma, Inc.) for their commitment to improving women’s health.

We are excited to host this year's event in the newly renovated National Museum of Women in the Arts. A limited number of tickets and sponsorships are still available. Contact SWHR Development Director Julie Miller with questions.

FORMER SWHR PRESIDENT PUBLISHES BOOK

Phyllis Greenberger, who served as SWHR’s president and CEO from 1993 to 2016, is releasing a new book with Mayo Clinic Press. “Sex Cells” tells the story of how the field of women’s health research and advocacy has progressed since the 1990s. You can pre-order the book online here.

Celebrate with us in D.C.! Join SWHR, HealthyWomen, and Phyllis Greenberger on April 14 in-person at the Planet Word museum to celebrate the release of this book and hear about Greenberger’s journey in women’s health. 

Hear current SWHR President and CEO Katie Schubert interview Phyllis Greenberger on our YouTube channel here!

Want to learn more about the history of SWHR? Check out the conversation between SWHR CEO Katie Schubert and SWHR Founder Florence Haseltine.

HEALTH AWARENESS IN APRIL

NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH (NMHM)

April is a time to raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities and reducing health disparities. Learn more about NMHM by exploring resources from the Office of Minority Health. Read more about the intersection of women’s health and minority health and health equity on the SWHR blog.

PREMENSTRUAL DISORDERS AWARENESS MONTH

Premenstrual disorders occur in women, typically between ovulation and a period. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a condition similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) but more serious. PMDD causes severe irritability, depression, or anxiety in the week or two before your period starts and may need to be managed with medicine or other treatment. Learn more about PMDD from the Office of Women’s Health and International Association For Premenstrual Disorders. 

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION (STI) AWARENESS MONTH 

There are many screening options and preventative steps that women can take to protect themselves and their loved ones from STIs, including HIV, syphilis, and HPV. Learn more by watching this STI panel discussion, hosted by SWHR in spring 2022. 

APRIL 1-5: ADOLESCENT IMMUNIZATION ACTION WEEK 

Women make the majority of health care decisions for their families, including around vaccines. Adolescents are 5x more likely to receive the HPV vaccine with a provider recommendation. We all have a role to play to ensure children and teens are vaccinated and healthy. Explore SWHR’s series of HPV vaccine resources to learn more about discussing vaccines with adolescents. 

The last week of April, April 24-20, is also World Immunization Week. 

APRIL 1-7: NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK 

During the first full week of April each year, we recognize the contributions of public health. This year’s theme is “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health.” Learn more and join the conversation on social media at #NPHW24.

APRIL 21-27: INFERTILITY AWARENESS WEEK 

Infertility can be caused by any number of issues due to both female and male-related factors – 1 in 11 women have trouble getting or sustaining pregnancy, while 1 in 9 men experience infertility as well. Breaking the stigma around fertility conversations and understanding your care options is essential to overall health. This April, explore the Fertility Health Care Resource Guides for Clinicians and for Women to learn more. 

LATEST RESOURCES

SWHR Publishes Obesity Fact Sheet

While approximately 42% of Americans are living with obesity, women are disproportionately affected by the obesity epidemic—both in terms of their health outcomes and the economic costs of the disease.

The "Obesity Disparities in Women and Factors Impacting Health Outcomes” Fact Sheet explores the unique impacts that obesity poses on women across their health spans and lifespans.

Share your health story with SWHR!

Do you have a health story about living with obesity, weight loss, or another health topic? Share your story with SWHR at swhr.org/shareyourstory and you could help inform future resources.

SWHR Releases Menopause Social Media Toolkit

Join SWHR in speaking up and speaking out about menopause wellness in our offices, in our communities, and at home. Use the “Supporting the Menopause Journey in the Workplace” social media toolkit to start the menopause conversation today! 

This social media toolkit spotlights the important information inside the new set of Menopause Workplace Resource Guides, created to support managers and women in fostering more menopause-friendly workplaces. 

Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #SWHRtalksMenopause.

Learn more about menopause at work!

Explore findings from the EMPACT Menopause Study, which informed the creation of the menopause workplace guides.

SWHR conducted this study to better understand the workplace experiences of individuals who have entered or completed the menopause transition, as well as the experiences of their coworkers and employers. 

With 75% of women ages 45 to 54 participating in the U.S. workforce, a significant portion of the labor force will work throughout the menopause transition. Watch “The Impact of Menopause on Women at Work: A Guide Conversation” to hear tips for how to address career-related challenges related to menopause. 

Do you have a menopause wellness story? Share your story by visiting swhr.org/shareyourstory and you could help inform future resources.

SWHR Updates:

• Latest Updates on the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research: Executive Order, SWHR Thank You Letter to First Lady
• SWHR Sends Thank You Letter to First Lady Re: White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research
• Statement from the Society for Women’s Health Research on President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address

Learn more about SWHR's policy work here.

Industry Updates:

• 60th Meeting of the NIH Advisory Committee on Research on Women's Health (ACRWH): The next meeting of the ACRWH will take place on April 9, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. - 4:35 p.m. ET. The ACRWH is responsible for advising the director of the Office of Research on Women's Health on NIH research and activities in women's health, reviewing NIH's women's health research portfolio, surveying goals for scientific career development, and assessing the inclusion of women and minorities in NIH clinical research. This is a hybrid event and will be videocast here.
• ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health: The ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health is offering two funding opportunity tracks, up to a total of $100 million: One for early-stage research, or “Spark” solutions, and one for later-stage development, or “Launchpad” solutions. Submissions are due by Friday, April 15, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Find more information about the requested topic areas, submission guidelines, and proposal requirements online.
• White House: FACT SHEET: President Biden Issues Executive Order and Announces New Actions to Advance Women’s Health Research and Innovation

APRIL 23: OADR-ORWH Science Talks | Xist-ing Data: Why Might Autoimmune Diseases Be More Common in Women?

The purpose of the OADR-ORWH Science Talks series is to examine the state of the science in specific areas impacting research on autoimmune disease and women’s health. This session is focused on Xist research and will bring together experts in the field to generate discussion and identify opportunities to advance Xist research as it pertains to autoimmune diseases. Register now!

APRIL 25: Alliance Discussion with Dr. Lori Frank, President Of Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM) And Katie Schubert, President & CEO Of Society For Women’s Health Research (SWHR)

Join Research!America for an alliance discussion featuring SWHR President and CEO Katie Schubert and Lori Frank, President of Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM). Katie and Lori will discuss actions by the Biden Administration and Congress to confront the persistent challenges in women's health. Register now!

MAY 1-4: 3rd Reproductive Aging Conference

The Reproductive Aging Conference focuses on understanding mechanisms that regulate aging in reproductive tissues and their relationship to overall organismal healthspan and longevity. This event is one of the only international meetings dedicated entirely to the topic of reproductive aging. Learn more and register.

MAY 5-7: ATA Nexus 2024 Annual Conference

Hosted by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), ATA Nexus 2024 will shine a light on the transformative potential of virtual care, and its role in enhancing patient outcomes and streamlining operations. The conference is set to feature new opportunities for professional development and networking. As virtual care becomes more integral to the fabric of health care innovation, ATA Nexus 2024 serves as a critical platform for medical professionals to discuss the latest trends reshaping our industry. Learn more. 

Use this exclusive SWHR Promo code to receive $200 off full registration: INVITENEXUS200.

SWHR EVENT MAY 5: SWHR Pre-Conference Symposium: Lights, Camera, and Action to Improve Women’s Heart Health

This session will discuss advances, challenges, and opportunities to address cardiovascular disease in women – from the lab to legislation – with insights that can be translated for implementation across the globe. The symposium will feature remarks from Irene O. Aninye, PhD, SWHR Chief Science Officer and Syreen Goulmamine, MPH, SWHR Science Programs Manager. Learn more and save the date.

SWHR EVENT MAY 6: SWHR Emerging Scholars in Women’s Health Research Award Symposium

The SWHR Emerging Scholars in Women’s Health Research Award is given to trainees whose abstracts submitted to the OSSD Annual Meeting demonstrate research excellence in addressing important knowledge gaps in health and disease areas that disproportionately, differently, or exclusively affect women. This inaugural year for the award centers on Aging & Women’s Health. Learn more about the awardees and their presentations.

SWHR EVENT MAY 9: VCU Health of Women 2024 | Emerging Topics in Women’s Health: Autoimmune Disease Challenge

This symposium will discuss the impacts of autoimmune diseases on women’s health across the lifespan, with special emphasis on pregnancy and maternal health, caregiving/parenting children with autoimmune disease, and the menopause transition. Register for the webinar.

This event is part of the VCU Health of Women Conference 2024, happening this May! Learn more about the conference.

MAY 29-31: Third Annual Healthcare Innovation Congress (thINc360)

The thINc360 conference assembles leaders from across health care to learn, network, and collaborate for meaningful progress towards enhancing health care. Meet SWHR at the event! SWHR CEO Katie Schubert will be a speaker at this event.

Use this exclusive SWHR Promo code to receive 50% off the current registration rates: SWHR. Register through this link.

JUNE 13-15: Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO2024)

Come celebrate the 40th anniversary of BHOF in 2024 by returning to an in-person format for this hallmark event! You don’t want to miss out on the amazing ISO2024 program planned. ISO2024 will offer educational sessions and networking opportunities to benefit many medical disciplines and specialties working with patients who have and/or are at risk for osteoporosis and fractures.

Meet SWHR at the event! The Society will have an exhibitor booth this year. Register now. 

JULY 23-25: Women’s Health Therapeutics & Diagnostics Summit

The Women’s Health Therapeutics & Diagnostics Summit presents a unique platform to combine forces across biotech and biopharma, to drive innovation and clinical progress across a range of disease indications. From endometriosis to infertility, pre-term birth, menopause and more, the need for in-depth conversations surrounding current standard of care, technological advancements and innovative pipeline developments has never been higher. 

Use the promo code SWHR10 receive 10% off all passes for new customers. Register now. 

Latest Updates on the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research: Executive Order, SWHR Thank You Letter to First Lady

Closing Gaps in Physician Endometriosis Education

Statement from the Society for Women’s Health Research on President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address

Do you have a health story to share? SWHR is always seeking stories about diagnoses, seeking or providing care, and living with narcolepsy, menopause, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, or other conditions or life stages. Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory or click the button to share.

Don't forget to check out SWHR's 2023 Annual Report

Read about SWHR's Science and Policy Programs, highlights from the 2023 Annual Awards Gala, top blogs, and letters from the SWHR President and Board Chair in the Society's 2023 Annual Report.