For the last 40 plus years I have specialized in doing clinical research on men's health. But as anyone who works in the field of gender-specific medicine knows, you can't study men without learning a great deal about women. I have found the Society for Women's Health Research to be at the very cutting edge of studies in the new field of gender-specific medicine. Helping men and women to improve their own health and the health of their relationships is a huge value to everyone.
As a medical student pursuing a career in obstetrics and gynecology in Washington, DC, I wanted an experience that would allow me to not only become involved in a non-clinical aspect of women's health, but also to learn more about health policy by taking advantage of the policy and advocacy work that are unique to this city. Among the organizations that were recommended to me for an internship, the Society for Women's Health Research quickly became my top choice. I immediately felt welcome and excited about the work I would be doing when I was contacted by Viviana Simon, the Vice President of Scientific Affairs. She was so friendly and enthusiastic about the Society and her work. When I met the rest of the staff I was instantly impressed by how passionate and down to earth they were. I knew right away that this was where I wanted to be for the summer. Through my course work in medical school I have learned about some of the recently discovered sex differences and their importance in medicine. We are also taught that there is so much that is still unknown. This is why the work done by SWHR is so important for the future of medicine. The staff at SWHR is dedicated to the discovery of sex differences that impact the delivery of health care to everyone. Biological variation between the sexes is not only seen in hormone levels, but also in other physiology. This is due to the variation in gene expression that is caused by differences in the sex chromosomes. The understanding of these differences is paramount to the proper treatment of disease and maintenance of health. Prior to 1990, women were not included in clinical trials, and we knew very little about sex differences. SWHR was formed to demand the inclusion of women in clinical trials, and is now the leader in researching sex differences. As a woman and a future physician I am very thankful for the work done by the Society to better understand the differences between the sexes that are so important to medicine. I am very happy that I can play a small part in their mission, and I hope that I can continue to contribute to the cause as I further my medical education and career.