The Women's Health Research Institute offers a wide variety of programs to promote women's health to the Public, Educators, Healthcare Providers, and Researchers.
Programs
In the past, the research community assumed that beyond the reproductive system, differences between men and women simply did not exist or were not relevant. Some of the reasons researchers have preferred male subjects include: the cost of using both sexes, a sense of having to protect vulnerable women and/or a potential fetus, uniformity, avoiding the “complications” of the menstrual cycle, and perceived complexity of recruitment. However, the truth, as outlined in Dr.
Menopause and its treatment just got a lot less confusing with the launch of a new website at menopauseNU.org. This easy-to-use site developed by the WHRI gives women a personalized approach to assess their overall health and manage their menopause symptoms. It includes a self-assessment you can take on-line, print out, and discuss with your medical provider. The site includes the latest research on different therapies to address menopausal symptoms.
While much progress has been made since the passage of the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (PL 103-43) mandating full NIH implementation of earlier policies for inclusion of women and minorities in clinical studies, there is still much work to be done to ensure that sex and gender equity exists across the full spectrum of women's health research and care and this issue is a top priority for the WHRI. In addition, we also advocate for policies that help the advancement of women in science.
The Women's Health Research Institute created the Women’s Health Science Program (WHSP) for High School Girls & Beyond to provide science education programs to females from underserved communities. WHSP targets young women who are considering careers in science and medicine and prepares them with valuable knowledge and skills to successfully become the next generation of women science leaders.
The Institute offers the Women's Health Research Monthly Forum. This is a one-hour educational program, during lunchtime, to feature professionals from Northwestern University and other institutions across the nation to present basic science research, clinical research, clinical practice guideline and social implications related to women. The Monthly Forum is a dynamic venue to encourage more sex- and gender-based studies and to provide support and role models for emerging women's health scholars.
This section contains print and on-line resources to help you make informed decisions about your health.
The Oncofertility Consortium® is a national, interdisciplinary initiative designed to address the complex health care and quality-of-life issues that concern young cancer patients whose fertility may be threatened by their disease or its treatment.
The Women's Health Research Institute has compiled a list of sex-sensitive academic and clinical resources for researchers, providers, educators and students..
Repropedia is a reproductive dictionary created by an international team of scientists and clinicians led by investigators at Northwestern University. An editorial board reviews all entries to ensure that definitions are both accurate and accessible to scientists and non-scientists alike.
The Women's Health Research Institute has compiled the programs or clinics affiliated with Northwestern Memorial Hospital or its clinical partners that focus on female specific conditions, treat health conditons that are more prevalent in women, or provide a gender-specific care. If you have a condition that is not addressed by any of these programs and would like a referral, call the Northwestern Physician's Access Line: 1-877-926-4664