Promoting Improvement in Women's Health

Women's needs are at the forefront of both clinical and community outreach services provided by physicians and health professionals at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, who are supported by the Office of Women's Health.

The office's mission is to encourage efforts in research, clinical care, and education that promote improvement in the health of women. Established in 1998 by Larry Gilstrap, M.D., director of the UT Women's Health Initiative and chairman of the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, the office is directed by Shahla Nader, M.D. and Barbara Sanborn, Ph.D. It focuses on promoting an understanding of women's health issues through the support of research and via a quarterly newsletter, an educational series, and a speakers' bureau.

"I am interested in educating not only women themselves, but also their health care providers regarding women's issues," said Nader. "At the Office of Women's Health, we try to reach out to the community so women can learn about their choices in health. We want to increase awareness of diseases that predominantly affect women and how women may respond differently to these conditions and their treatment."

Sanborn has been studying sex steroids and reproductive hormones for most of her career. She considers it important to keep other UT-Houston researchers informed of funding opportunities in areas related to women's health and facilitate multi-investigator and inter-institutional collaborations.

"We have significant potential at UT-Houston to make major advances in basic and clinical research in this area," Sanborn said.

The quarterly newsletter, Women's Health NEWSWATCH, features guidelines about nutrition, exercise, disease prevention, emotional health, lifestyles, and clinical trials as well as new research breakthroughs and their significance to women. The publication is sent to all female UT-Houston employees, to physician offices, and to many community members.

"Updates in Women's Health Lecture Series" is a program aimed at medical center employees and the community. It features various UT-Houston physicians speaking on such topics as hormone replacement therapy, breast cancer, infertility, and many other health issues affecting women.

The office also coordinates speakers for any type of group, including businesses and professional meetings. All outreach services are free. For more information, visit womenshealth.med.uth.tmc.edu/watch/.

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/10_01_02/page_04.html