Setting a local research agenda for women's health: The National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health

Women's Health Curriculum for Medical Students

OBJECTIVES

Knowledge of women's health is important for physicians in various specialties, but training often is inadequate. The objective of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a women's health curriculum for medical students at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville.

METHODS

After reviewing previous pertinent literature and assessing institutional factors, we developed an interdisciplinary women's health elective for medical students. We present the curricular design for the course. The 2-week elective explores women's health topics such as disease prevention, screening, breast health, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular health. Teaching methodology includes case-based lectures, reading assignments, and clinic sessions at multiple sites.

RESULTS

Senior medical students worked in a variety of clinical settings and were assigned a women's health project, a pretest before starting the elective, and a posttest after completion of the course. A statistically significant increase was seen in the students' mean posttest (98.8%) versus pretest (85.6%) scores (difference 13.1%; 95% confidence interval 7.3-19.0, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Designing curricula that promote lifelong professional competency in the field of women's health can be challenging. At the University of Florida, we have successfully created and implemented a medical student elective in women's health using local resources and expertise. This elective satisfies important women's health training requirements, has been well received by our students, and has resulted in increased women's health-specific knowledge. The experience at our institution may be useful for other programs interested in developing a women's health curriculum geared toward medical students utilizing minimal resources.

Osteoporosis: prevention and implications for social work practice and policy

Osteoporosis is one of the major disorders of our time and is increasing at an alarming rate. It affects over 10 million women in the United States and is expected to affect 14 million by the year 2020. There are a number of risk factors for osteoporosis that are of a modifiable nature; however, many women do not take the necessary precautions to prevent the disease. The reasons that women do not actively engage in preventative and remedial strategies to deal with the potential for osteoporosis are complex. It is clear that women must have adequate knowledge to make informed decisions regarding osteoprotective behaviors. Social workers are in a unique position to provide interventions not only on a micro level (educating individual clients) but also on a macro level in terms of large-scale education campaigns focusing on nutrition and exercise both in children and in adults. This article examines the reasons for the failure of women to engage in osteoprotective behaviors by exploring barriers to prevention and their impact on social work policy, practice, and research.

The Evolution of Women's Health Education: The Cleveland Clinic's Women's Health Fellowship as a Model

Our goal in this paper is twofold. First, it provides a brief overview of the macrotrends in women's health education over the last 25 years. Second, these trends are a backdrop for a discussion of women's health education as exemplified by a detailed review of the curriculum for the Women's Health fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. We have termed the underpinning of the curriculum the "leadership triad" consisting of (1) clinical skills, (2) focused research, and (3) interdisciplinary education. These elements are presented in a detailed curriculum for a 2-year fellowship program. We see these elements as fundamental to the Cleveland Clinic's fellowship program, and a useful model for those contemplating or refining their advanced women's health curriculum.

Sex-based centers of care: a look to the future

Although sex-based centers of care have played a critical historic role in improving the health of their constituents and drawing attention to the different health care needs of men and women, it is time to challenge them to do an even better job. There are now overwhelming data showing that men and women are profoundly different at the molecular and cellular level in virtually all aspects of musculoskeletal health and disease, but the clinical implications of these differences have generally been unexplored. Sex-based health centers of care can play a critical role in exploring these difference, and, in doing so, reduce disability and enhance quality of life in our growing population of senior men and women.

Development of a Comprehensive Women's Health Program in an Academic Medical Center: Experiences of the Indiana University National Center of Excellence in Women's Health

BACKGROUND

The IU National Cancer of Excellence (CoE) in Women's Health was funded by the Office on Women's Health, Department of Health and Human Services, in 1997 as part of the "second generation" of CoEs. The purpose of this paper is to describe the changes that the existence of this Center have wrought within the IU School of Medicine.

METHODS

This paper describes the creation, mission, and function of the IU CoE, as well as some of its accomplishments to date.

RESULTS

Through its missions targeting clinical care, research, education, community outreach, and leadership development, the IU CoE has significantly changed the delivery of care to and by women at this institution.

CONCLUSIONS

The IU CoE has been responsible for major changes in the concepts of women's health from a clinical, research, education, and leadership perspective at the IU School of Medicine. Similar cases can be made for most of the other CoEs around the country. The challenges being faced continue to be sustained and sufficient funding for these valuable Centers.