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THE WHAM COLLABORATIVE

All of our work is supported by a diverse panel of experts—leading scientists, researchers and medical professionals working together to improve women’s health.

WHAM Collaborative members work together to:

Identify and prioritize key questions for women’s health research.
Develop studies, collaborate on research, share insights and information.
Generate interest and momentum in the research community to focus on women’s health.

Collaborative Members

COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP

  • Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc

    Founding Member and Lead Scientific Advisor with The WHAM Collaborative Executive Director, Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Vice Chair for Psychiatry Research, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Paula A. Johnson Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Women’s Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

    Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc

    Founding Member and Lead Scientific Advisor with The WHAM Collaborative Executive Director, Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Vice Chair for Psychiatry Research, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Paula A. Johnson Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Women’s Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
    Dr. Hadine Joffe is an internationally recognized women’s health researcher, educator, and clinician. In her research, Dr. Joffe is dedicated to advancing the understanding, treatment, and consequences of symptoms resulting from reproductive hormone changes in the brain, with a particular focus on women who have breast cancer. As the Director of the Connors Center, Dr. Joffe supports faculty and trainees in forging new ground in women’s health research and works to ensure that research translates to patient care and is aligned with women’s health advocacy priorities.
    Video

    Dr. Hadine Joffe, WHAM Collaborative Member

    Dr. Hadine Joffe is WHAM!’s lead scientific research partner and the Executive Director of the Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

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  • Nicole Woitowich, PhD

    Executive Director, The WHAM Collaborative Research Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University Center Administrator, Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University

    Nicole Woitowich, PhD

    Executive Director, The WHAM Collaborative Research Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University Center Administrator, Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University
    Dr. Nicole Woitowich focuses on the evaluation of the biomedical research enterprise through various lenses, such as the integration of science outreach into existing research infrastructure, and the advancement of women and minorities in STEM and medicine to help bridge the gap in women’s health research. As Associate Director of the Women’s Health Research Institute at Northwestern University, Dr. Woitowich is a fierce advocate for expanded women’s health research, putting a spotlight on the effects of sex and gender on health.
    Video

    Dr. Nicole Woitowich, WHAM Collaborative Member

    Dr. Nicole Woitowich is the Center Administrator at the Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences at Northwestern University.

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  • Brian Aguado, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Bioengineering University of California San Diego Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine

    Brian Aguado, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Bioengineering University of California San Diego Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine
    Dr. Brian Aguado (Twitter: @BrianAguado) is currently an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at UC San Diego, where his laboratory research is focused on studying sex differences in cardiovascular disease using biomaterial technologies. Dr. Aguado completed his BS degree in Biomechanical Engineering from Stanford University and his MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University. He also obtained his certificate in Management for Scientists and Engineers from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Aguado has received numerous awards to support his research, including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program award, the NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, the American Heart Association Career Development Award, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Science Diversity Leadership Award. Dr. Aguado currently serves on the editorial advisory boards for the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A and GEN Biotechnology. Dr. Aguado also co-founded LatinXinBME (Twitter: @LatinXinBME), a new social media initiative dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive community of Latinx biomedical engineers and scientists to support each other personally and professionally through their careers. For his efforts, he was named one of the 100 Most Inspiring Latinx Scientists in America by Cell Press and received the Biomaterials Diversity Award for Young Investigator from the Biomaterials journal.

  • Wendy Bennett, MD, MPH

    Associate Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Women’s Health, Sex, and Gender Research

    Wendy Bennett, MD, MPH

    Associate Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Women’s Health, Sex, and Gender Research
    Dr. Wendy Bennett’s research focus is on weight management and obesity control and studied behavioral interventions to promote healthy weight gain in pregnancy and postpartum weight loss. As the Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Women’s Health, Sex, and Gender Research, Dr. Bennett is committed to identifying and ultimately eliminating the biomedical research gaps for in women’s health.

  • Roberta Brinton, PhD

    Director, UA Center for Innovation in Brain Science, University of Arizona Health Sciences

    Roberta Brinton, PhD

    Director, UA Center for Innovation in Brain Science, University of Arizona Health Sciences
    Dr. Roberta Brinton is a leading neuroscientist in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular focus on the aging female brain and regenerative therapeutics. Of the 5.7 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease, two-thirds are women. Dr. Brinton’s research investigates the sex-based differences in Alzheimer’s disease to better understand why women are disproportionately affected and help lead the medical community to precision medicine for all patients afflicted. Dr. Brinton’s research is focused on the mechanisms, including sex-based differences, underlying late-onset Alzheimer’s and developing therapeutics to prevent, delay and cure the disease.

  • Larry Cahill, PhD

    Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine

    Larry Cahill, PhD

    Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine
    Dr. Larry Cahill is a is a long-standing leader in the areas of brain and memory, and among the world’s foremost leaders on the topic of sex influences on the brain. In 2017 he edited the first issue of any neuroscience journal devoted to the topic (in The Journal of Neuroscience Research). He was instrumental in the 2016 adoption by the NIH of the landmark Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) policy mandating consideration of sex influences in all NIH funded research. He is an internationally regarded investigator and speaker whose work has been highlighted often in the press, including in the New York Times, London Times, Washington Post, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, PBS, CNN, and 60 Minutes.
    Video

    Preview: Sex Matters

    Despite the fact that many other drugs are also metabolized differently by men and women, Ambien is the only drug on the market for which the FDA has different suggested doses based on sex. Lesley Stahl reports on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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  • Lisa Christopher-Stine, MD, MPH

    Professor of Medicine and Neurology Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Director, Johns Hopkins Myositis Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Co-Chair, IRB 5 Colleges Advisory Program (CAP) Core Faculty, Taussig College

    Lisa Christopher-Stine, MD, MPH

    Professor of Medicine and Neurology Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Director, Johns Hopkins Myositis Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Co-Chair, IRB 5 Colleges Advisory Program (CAP) Core Faculty, Taussig College
    Dr. Christopher-Stine is an internationally recognized health researcher, clinician, and educator. In her research, Dr. Christopher-Stine specializes in autoimmune diseases and has a special interest in reproductive health and the microbiome in autoimmune diseases. She is also the co-discover of a novel autoantibody associated with autoimmune statin myopathy. As the co-founder and Director of the Johns Hopkins Myositis Precision Medicine Center of Excellence, Dr. Christopher-Stine devotes her research and clinical interest to studying autoimmune muscle diseases collectively known as myositis. Recent collaborative work from her research team revealed that one type of myositis thought to be associated with accelerated or abnormal muscle cell aging called Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) presents differently in men and women and is likely underdiagnosed in women. This opens the door to studying gender differences not only in IBM but also sex differences in aging muscle in the general population.

  • Robynne Chutkan, MD

    Founder and CEO, Digestive Center for Wellness

    Robynne Chutkan, MD

    Founder and CEO, Digestive Center for Wellness
    Dr. Robynne Chutkan is an integrative gastroenterologist and microbiome expert, bestselling author and founder of the Digestive Center for Wellness, a practice dedicated to pinpointing the root causes of GI disorders to help patients heal from the inside out. Her work focuses on the differences in digestive systems between men and women. Dr. Chutkan is the author of digestive health books including Gutbliss, The Microbiome Solution, and The Bloat Cure.

  • Richard J. Davidson, PhD

    William James and Vilas Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison Founder & Director of the Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison Founder and Chief Visionary, Healthy Minds Innovations, Inc.

    Richard J. Davidson, PhD

    William James and Vilas Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison Founder & Director of the Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison Founder and Chief Visionary, Healthy Minds Innovations, Inc.
    Davidson received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Psychology in 1976. Davidson’s research is broadly focused on the neural bases of emotion and emotional style and methods to promote human flourishing including meditation and related contemplative practices. He has published over 440 articles, numerous chapters and reviews and edited 14 books. He is the author (with Sharon Begley) of "The Emotional Life of Your Brain" published in 2012 and co-author with Daniel Goleman of “Altered Traits” published in 2017. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2006. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017 and appointed to the Governing Board of UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) in 2018. In 2014, Davidson founded the non-profit, Healthy Minds Innovations, which translates science into tools to cultivate and measure well-being.
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    Richard J. Davidson, PhD

    psychiatry.wisc.edu
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    richardjdavidson.com
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  • Nicola Finley, MD

    Principal and Founder, Dr. Nicola, PLLC

    Nicola Finley, MD

    Principal and Founder, Dr. Nicola, PLLC
    Dr. Nicola Finley is a board-certified internal medicine physician with a consulting practice focused on integrative medicine, women’s health, diversity and inclusion in wellness, employee wellness and global health equity. Dr. Finley serves on the faculty of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. She has practiced integrative medicine at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona and provided care to economically disadvantaged communities at El Rio Community Health Center and St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson.

  • Jennifer Hall, PhD, FAHA

    Chief, Data Science, American Heart Association Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota

    Jennifer Hall, PhD, FAHA

    Chief, Data Science, American Heart Association Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota
    Dr. Hall serves as the Chief of Data Science at the American Heart Association (AHA) and holds an adjunct Professor in the Dept of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Under her leadership the AHA established the AHA Precision Medicine Platform, which provides researchers with a web portal providing access to data and workspaces equipped with analysis tools. Dr. Hall’s team includes experts in statistical techniques, evaluation and data management. The team delivers data, code, and evaluation expertise and tools to multiple projects including Research Goes Red, the AHA Get With the Guideline Registry Data and multiple NIH, CDC, and FDA awards. Her research analyzes different factors contribute to understanding heart health – including gender.
    Video

    Dr. Jennifer Hall WHAM-AHA Heart Event Clip

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  • Nada O. Hanafi, MSc, MPH

    Senior Vice President – Regulatory Strategy at Veranex - Regulatory, Quality and Clinical Services Co-Founder and Board Director – MedTech Color; medtechcolor.org

    Nada O. Hanafi, MSc, MPH

    Senior Vice President – Regulatory Strategy at Veranex - Regulatory, Quality and Clinical Services Co-Founder and Board Director – MedTech Color; medtechcolor.org
    Nada is a results-oriented executive with over 20 years of experience advising CEOs and Founders in the MedTech and life-sciences industry. She possesses extensive experience with medical devices and combination products, specializing in software (AI/ML), plastic and reconstructive surgical innovations, neurology and aesthetics, hardware, regulated and wellness products.

    Nada previously led cross-functional teams within FDA and NIH where she spearheaded high-impact projects in the areas of regulatory science and policy development, risk assessment, physician education, stakeholder engagement and collaboration with patient advocacy groups, and change management and can attract and retain talent by building a culture of inclusivity and diverse perspective to develop powerful solutions and strategies to advance health outcomes. She serves on the board of directors for Medtech Color and is also an advisor for startups (with a keen focus on women’s health), accelerators, and universities, including CLSI’s FAST program, MedTech Innovator, UC Berkeley's Master of Translational Medicine program, UCLA Biodesign, NIH and the Gates Foundation Innovation Equity Forum (IEF), as well as the AMA’s In Full Health initiative to advance equitable health innovation.

    Nada is committed and leading the fight to bring equity, parity, and sanity to clinical research by advancing the MedTech Color Collaborative Community on Diversity and Inclusion in Medical Device Product Development and Clinical Research. Nada spent over 12.5 years at FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) working on a range of products from breast implants to neurological devices and holding increasing positions of responsibility including as a Senior Science Health Advisor, serving as an expert consultant and senior advisor in the Center Director’s office and as such poses a deep institutional knowledge of FDA’s review processes. Nada was the Network Leader for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Breast Implants and served as the CDRH Liaison and Subject Matter Expert to FDA’s Office of Women’s Health (OWH) and Office of Minority Health (OMH) to evaluate research proposals and intramural grant applications. Nada co-developed and lead the Health of Women (HoW) program at CDRH, with the goal to improve the health of women by; (1) Breaking the barriers that prevent the inclusion of women in clinical trials, (2) Improving the availability and consistency of sex-specific information for the safe and effective use of medical devices in women , and (3) advancing a targeted research roadmap.

    As such, at Veranex, Nada overseas the regulatory team by supporting clients with both setting strategic direction, evidence pipeline and all aspects of design, development, commercial distribution of devices, and postmarket compliance to ensure products remain safe and effective while on the market.
    Nada holds an MSc. in Biomaterials and a BEng in Biomedical Materials Science & Engineering from Queen Mary College, University of London. She earned her MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Nada is a Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) and a Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) (2016).

  • Sharonne Hayes, MD, FACC, FAHA

    Founder, Women’s Heart Clinic, Mayo Clinic Profesor, Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic

    Sharonne Hayes, MD, FACC, FAHA

    Founder, Women’s Heart Clinic, Mayo Clinic Profesor, Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic
    Dr. Sharonne Hayes has long advocated for the advancement of women’s health and sex-based medicine within the field of cardiology and many other areas that affect women’s health and well-being. Her research interests include sex and gender-based cardiology, cardiovascular conditions primarily affecting women, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), fibromuscular dysplasia, pericardial diseases, health equity, participation of women and minorities in medical research, healthcare workforce equity, and the utility and optimal role of social media in clinical practice, medical research and health education.

  • Marsha Henderson

    Associate Commissioner for Women’s Health, FDA (retired)

    Marsha Henderson

    Associate Commissioner for Women’s Health, FDA (retired)
    Marsha Henderson, the former Associate Commissioner for Women's Health at the Food and Drug Administration, is a nationally recognized innovative leader and change agent for the health of women and their families. During her decade-long tenure at the FDA, Henderson served as a voice to include women in research, education, and policy initiatives to build a better understanding of sex differences and health issues that disproportionately or uniquely impact women. She created the first FDA Women’s Health Research Roadmap, outlining seven priority areas for new or enhanced research across disease areas and new cutting-edge areas of science.
    Video

    WHAM Report Launch Event Highlight | Marsha Henderson, Former FDA Associate Commissioner

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  • Marjorie Jenkins, MD

    Dean, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville Chief Academic Officer, Prisma Health-Upstate

    Marjorie Jenkins, MD

    Dean, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville Chief Academic Officer, Prisma Health-Upstate
    In addition to her work as a clinician, Dr. Marjorie Jenkins has been a fierce academic and program innovator, incorporating sex and gender-inclusive models and educational resources at medical schools and institutions across the country. Dr. Jenkins launched the U.S. Sex and Gender Medical Education Summit to address disparities in research focusing on women’s health and was the Founding Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer for the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health.

  • Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc

    Founding Member and Lead Scientific Advisor with The WHAM Collaborative Executive Director, Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Vice Chair for Psychiatry Research, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Paula A. Johnson Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Women’s Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

    Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc

    Founding Member and Lead Scientific Advisor with The WHAM Collaborative Executive Director, Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Vice Chair for Psychiatry Research, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Paula A. Johnson Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Women’s Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
    Dr. Hadine Joffe is an internationally recognized women’s health researcher, educator, and clinician. In her research, Dr. Joffe is dedicated to advancing the understanding, treatment, and consequences of symptoms resulting from reproductive hormone changes in the brain, with a particular focus on women who have breast cancer. As the Director of the Connors Center, Dr. Joffe supports faculty and trainees in forging new ground in women’s health research and works to ensure that research translates to patient care and is aligned with women’s health advocacy priorities.
    Video

    Dr. Hadine Joffe, WHAM Collaborative Member

    Dr. Hadine Joffe is WHAM!’s lead scientific research partner and the Executive Director of the Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

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  • Wendy Klein, MD, MACP

    Associate Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, VCU School of Medicine Co-Founder, VCU Institute of Women’s Health Vice Chair, Virginia Board of Health Former Medical Director, Health Brigade

    Wendy Klein, MD, MACP

    Associate Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, VCU School of Medicine Co-Founder, VCU Institute of Women’s Health Vice Chair, Virginia Board of Health Former Medical Director, Health Brigade
    Dr. Wendy Klein never saw a female doctor while growing up, but this only made her more determined to follow her passion for medicine and serve as a role model for future generations of female doctors. Dr. Wendy Klein is board-certified in Internal Medicine and has devoted her career to improving women’s health and eliminating the inequities in the research gap. She is the former Medical Director of Health Brigade, the oldest free clinic in Virginia which provided medical care to vulnerable and under-served populations.

  • Juliana (Jewel) Kling, MD, MPH, NCMP, FACP

    Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona Chair of the Division of Women’s Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona Assistant Director of the Women’s Health Center and Associate Chair of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity for the Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona

    Juliana (Jewel) Kling, MD, MPH, NCMP, FACP

    Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona Chair of the Division of Women’s Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona Assistant Director of the Women’s Health Center and Associate Chair of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity for the Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona
    Dr. Jewel Kling is a Professor of Medicine, Chair of the Division of Women’s Health Internal Medicine, Assistant Director of the Women’s Health Center and Associate Chair of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity for the Department of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. She completed medical school and a master’s in public health at the University of Arizona Tucson and Internal Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic Arizona, followed by a Chief Internal Medicine fellowship year. Her clinical and research interest are in menopause, sexual health and LGBT care. She is a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Certified Menopause Practitioner and serves on the board of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), and the American Medical Women’s Association Sex and Gender Health Collaborative. She is part of the transgender steering committee at Mayo Clinic Arizona and has been a past co-chair of the LGBTI Mayo Employee Resource Group. She is also involved in education and is active with the Internal Medicine residency and Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, as well as efforts to expand the discipline of Sex and Gender specific medicine.

  • Susan Kornstein, MD

    Executive Director, Institute for Women's Health, Virginia Commonwealth University Director, Clinical Research in the Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University

    Susan Kornstein, MD

    Executive Director, Institute for Women's Health, Virginia Commonwealth University Director, Clinical Research in the Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University
    Dr. Susan G. Kornstein is Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynecology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she is Executive Director of the Institute for Women's Health and Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Psychiatry. She is Principal Investigator of a Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) grant funded by the National Institutes of Health. She is also Principal Investigator of an ADVANCE-IT grant funded by the National Science Foundation focused on increasing recruitment, retention and advancement of diverse women faculty in STEM fields. She has conducted more than 90 clinical research studies in the areas of depression, anxiety disorders, premenstrual syndrome, and sexual dysfunction. Dr. Kornstein is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Women's Health and Women’s Health Reports and Associate Editor of the Archives of Women’s Mental Health. She is a past member of the NIH Advisory Council for Research on Women’s Health and Past President of the International Association for Women’s Mental Health.

  • Pavitra Kotini-Shah, MD

    Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago Women’s Health Research Scholar, University of Illinois at Chicago Director of Resident Ultrasound Education, University of Illinois at Chicago

    Pavitra Kotini-Shah, MD

    Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago Women’s Health Research Scholar, University of Illinois at Chicago Director of Resident Ultrasound Education, University of Illinois at Chicago
    Dr. Kotini-Shah is passionate about understanding sex and gender differences and advocates for more inclusive health research and data for women and minorities. In addition to her work in the emergency room and her research focused on heart health and resuscitation, Dr. Kontini-Shah also co-authored a recent study showing how COVID-19 has disproportionately affected women faculty members who are in their early and mid-careers due to increased workloads and stress and decreased self-care.

  • JoAnn Manson, MD, DrPH

    Chief, Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Professor of Medicine and the Michael and Lee Bell Professor of Women's Health, Harvard Medical School

    JoAnn Manson, MD, DrPH

    Chief, Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Professor of Medicine and the Michael and Lee Bell Professor of Women's Health, Harvard Medical School
    Dr. JoAnn Manson is a prominent women’s health expert, and conducts research across several WHAM disease focus areas, including cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. In particular, Dr. Manson focuses on the role of lifestyle factors, diet, micronutrient supplementation, and hormone replacement therapy as determinants of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and breast cancer in women.
    Video

    WHAM JoAnn Manson

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  • Alyson McGregor, MD

    Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs and Development, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville

    Alyson McGregor, MD

    Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs and Development, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
    Dr. Alyson McGregor’s research on the impact of sex and gender differences in emergency medicine have made her a leading spokesperson for sex- and gender-based research around the world. From a TEDx talk with over 1.5 million views to her book, “Sex Matters: How Male-Centric Medicine Endangers Women’s Health – and What We Can Do About It,” Dr. McGregor has sparked a national conversation around the concept of sex and gender differences in the delivery of acute medical care.
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    Alyson McGregor, MD

    doctors.prismahealth.org
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    alysonmcgregormd.com
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    Dr. Alyson McGregor, WHAM Collaborative Member

    Dr. Alyson McGregor is the Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Development and Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. Dr. McGregor is also the author of the book, “Sex Matters: How Male-Centric Medicine Endangers Women’s Health – and What We Can Do About It.”

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  • Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP, FESC, FAHA, MSCAI

    Endowed Mount Sinai Professor in Cardiovascular Clinical Research and Outcomes Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

    Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP, FESC, FAHA, MSCAI

    Endowed Mount Sinai Professor in Cardiovascular Clinical Research and Outcomes Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
    Dr. Roxana Mehran is an internationally renowned interventional cardiologist and clinical research expert in the field of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Mehran has built a globally-respected academic research center focused on developing randomized clinical trials, served as principal investigator for numerous global studies, developed risk scores for bleeding and acute kidney injury, participated in developing clinical guidelines, and authored over 1300 peer-reviewed articles. She is currently leading the Lancet Commission on Women’s Cardiovascular Diseases, which brings together leading female researchers from around the world to identify and bridge gaps in research and care for women with cardiovascular disease.

  • Michelle Mielke, PhD

    Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Professor of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

    Michelle Mielke, PhD

    Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Professor of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
    Dr. Michelle Mielke works to further the understanding of the epidemiology of neurodegenerative diseases and the sex-specific differences in the risk and progression of these diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Mielke leads research that will lead to identification of sex-specific risk factors in both men and women to better predict risk of neurodegenerative diseases and accelerated aging. By studying sex differences, Dr. Mielke hopes to contribute to improved precision-based medicine for men and women.
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    Dr. Michelle Mielke, WHAM Collaborative Member

    Dr. Michelle Mielke is the Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Neurology at Mayo Clinic as well as the Co-Director of the Specialized Center for Research Excellence on Sex Differences at Mayo Clinic.

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  • Lisa Mosconi, PhD

    Director, Alzheimer’s Prevention Program, Weill Cornell Medicine Director, Women’s Brain Initiative, Weill Cornell Medicine Associate Professor, Neuroscience in Neurology and Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine

    Lisa Mosconi, PhD

    Director, Alzheimer’s Prevention Program, Weill Cornell Medicine Director, Women’s Brain Initiative, Weill Cornell Medicine Associate Professor, Neuroscience in Neurology and Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine
    Dr. Lisa Mosconi’s research is at the intersection of neuroscience and women’s health, focusing on how genetics, environment, and lifestyle shape the brain, particularly the female brain. As the Director of Weill Cornell Women’s Brain Initiative, her work is focused on discovering sex-based molecular targets and precision therapies to prevent, delay, and treat Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Mosconi is the author of two books, The XX Brain and Brain Food, bringing 15+ years of research out of the lab and into everyone’s lives.
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    Lisa Mosconi, PhD

    neurology.weill.cornell.edu
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    lisamosconi.com
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    Dr. Lisa Mosconi – WHAM

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    WHAM Collaborative – Dr. Lisa Mosconi

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  • Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD

    President and CEO, La Jolla Institute for Immunology

    Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD

    President and CEO, La Jolla Institute for Immunology
    Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire is a world-renowned virus expert and the first woman chosen to lead La Jolla Institute for Immunology as President and CEO. Dr. Ollmann Saphire’s research explains, at the molecular level, how and why viruses are pathogenic and provides the roadmap for medical defense. Her work also focuses on the differences in fundamental immunology of women versus men, which drive different disease propensities and outcomes. Dr. Ollman Saphire has been at the center of efforts across the globe to identify therapies to prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 and to research COVID-19 mutations. Dr. Ollmann Saphire is a leader in collaborative research, working to make scientific data more open and accessible across research silos in order to advance science.
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    Erica Ollmann Saphire – LJI WHAM Partnership

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    WHAM Erica Ollmann Saphire

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    WHAM Report Launch Event Highlight | Erica Ollmann Saphire, La Jolla Institute for Immunology

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  • Charlotte Owens, MD

    Vice President and Head of the Research and Development, Center for Health Equity and Patient Affairs, Takeda Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morehouse School of Medicine

    Charlotte Owens, MD

    Vice President and Head of the Research and Development, Center for Health Equity and Patient Affairs, Takeda Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morehouse School of Medicine
    Dr. Charlotte Owens has dedicated her career to women’s health. She is a leader in clinical research and an advocate for the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion and patient-centered approaches in biomedical research to advance the health of women and communities of color. Dr. Owens has practiced as an Ob-Gyn, led research including studies on uterine fibroids that took care to include African American women who are disproportionately affected. Prior to joining Takeda, she was the Therapeutic Area Lead in U.S. Medical Affairs for Women’s Health at AbbVie.

  • Lisa Poulikakos, PhD

    Assistant Professor, UC San Diego Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

    Lisa Poulikakos, PhD

    Assistant Professor, UC San Diego Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
    Lisa Poulikakos is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UCSD. She received her PhD in Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zürich, where she introduced an original theoretical and experimental technique to enable the rational design of chiral nanophotonic systems. Her postdoctoral research in Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University focused on developing functional nanophotonic surfaces for all-optical and label-free cancer tissue diagnostics. Her lab at UCSD develops chiral and anisotropic nanophotonic materials e.g. for next-generation imaging and on-chip tissue diagnostics. She is a recipient of the ETH Medal, awarded to outstanding doctoral theses, the L’Oréal USA For Women in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Swiss National Science Foundation Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship, the RCSA Scialog Fellowship for Advancing Bioimaging, the UCSD MRSEC New Investigator Award, the Beckman Young Investigator Award and the AFOSR Young Investigator Program Award.

  • Judith Regensteiner, PhD

    Director, Center for Women’s Health Research, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Judith Regensteiner, PhD

    Director, Center for Women’s Health Research, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
    Dr. Judith Regensteiner’s research focuses on the cardiovascular effects of diabetes with a specific focus on women with type 2 diabetes, because they appear to have more significant abnormalities than men with type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, yet only one-third of participants in clinical trials of cardiovascular disease are women. Dr. Regensteiner’s work showcases the substantial sex- and gender-based differences in cardiovascular disease and the importance of studying women in clinical research. As the co-founder and Director of the Center for Women’s Health Research, Dr. Regensteiner also leads an interdisciplinary team of researchers focusing on women’s health and sex differences in clinical research.

  • Stacey E. Rosen, MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA

    Senior Vice President, Women's Health, Katz Institute for Women's Health, Northwell Health Partners Council Professor of Women's Health, Professor of Cardiology, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

    Stacey E. Rosen, MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA

    Senior Vice President, Women's Health, Katz Institute for Women's Health, Northwell Health Partners Council Professor of Women's Health, Professor of Cardiology, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
    Dr. Stacey E. Rosen is a practicing cardiologist and the Senior Vice President for Northwell Health’s Katz Institute for Women’s Health. At the Katz Institute, Dr. Rosen focuses on the elimination of health care disparities through comprehensive clinical programs, gender-based research, community partnerships and education. Dr. Rosen is the co-author of Heart Smarter for Women: Six Weeks to a Healthier Heart and produced the movie, Ms. Diagnosed, to showcase the real women whose lives and families have been disastrously affected by the inequities women face in receiving medical care. Dr. Rosen is the Partners Council Professor of Women’s Health and a Professor of Cardiology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
    Video

    Dr. Stacey Rosen WHAM-AHA Heart Event Clip

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    Video

    WHAM Heart Report | Good Day New York Interview with Dr. Stacey Rosen & Susan Lucci

    To launch the WHAM Report on Coronary Artery Disease, WHAM Collaborative member Dr. Stacey Rosen of Northwell Health and actress & American Heart Association Advocate Susan Lucci of All My Children spoke to Good Day New York about the importance of women-focused heart health.

    WATCH VIDEO
    Video

    Dr. Stacey Rosen, WHAM Collaborative Member

    Dr. Stacey Rosen is the Senior Vice President for Women’s Health at the Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell as well as the Health Partners Council Professor of Women’s Health at Hofstra North Shore-LJI School.

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  • Sharyn Rossi, PhD

    Director, Scientific Programs, Neuroscience, BrightFocus Foundation

    Sharyn Rossi, PhD

    Director, Scientific Programs, Neuroscience, BrightFocus Foundation
    Dr. Rossi uses her multidisciplinary background in central nervous system injury and mechanisms of aging to implement research initiatives, initiate and maintain institutional collaborations, and foster relationships with scientists and key stakeholders, while overseeing an active portfolio of $41 million consisting of nearly 150 grants spanning 14 countries in her role at BrightFocus. Her expertise includes: Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Aging, Neuroanatomy, Neurodegeneration and plasticity, Stem Cell Biology, and Neuroimaging. She holds a PhD from the University of California, Irvine and completed postdoctoral work at A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital and Johns Hopkins University.

  • Kathryn Sandberg, PhD

    Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center Director, Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging, and Disease, Georgetown University Director, Predoc and Postdoc Training Program, Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science

    Kathryn Sandberg, PhD

    Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center Director, Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging, and Disease, Georgetown University Director, Predoc and Postdoc Training Program, Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science
    Dr. Sandberg’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the sex differences in the incidence and rate of progression of hypertension and associated cardiovascular and renal disease. Dr. Sandberg has found that the incidence and rate of progression of these disease states is higher in men than age-matched women, until women reach menopause. After menopause, women rapidly catch up with men. Through Dr. Sandberg’s research, we will develop a better understanding of cardiovascular disease risks evolve for both men and women during aging.

  • Katherine Sharkey, MD, PhD

    Associate Dean for Gender Equity, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Associate Professor of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

    Katherine Sharkey, MD, PhD

    Associate Dean for Gender Equity, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Associate Professor of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
    Katherine “Katie” Sharkey is a recognized expert in sleep, circadian rhythms, and sleep disorders, particularly as they relate to women’s health and psychiatric illness. Sharkey is board certified in Sleep Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry and is a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Sharkey serves as an Associate Editor of Behavioral Sleep Medicine and Frontiers in Sleep, and is on the editorial board of Sleep Health. Her research is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

  • Suzanne Steinbaum, DO

    Private Practice Cardiologist Co-Founder and President, SRSHeart

    Suzanne Steinbaum, DO

    Private Practice Cardiologist Co-Founder and President, SRSHeart
    Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is a cardiologist, specializing in prevention, and is an expert in women and heart disease. Dr. Steinbaum has devoted her career to the treatment of heart disease through early detection, education, and prevention. She is an active spokesperson for women’s heart health, is a regular contributor to many TV and print news outlets, and speaks at leading health summits. Dr. Steinbaum has spoken at the United Nations, been featured on Good Morning America and The View, and has published several books on women’s cardiovascular health.
    Video

    Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, WHAM Collaborative Member

    Dr. Steinbaum is a New York City-based cardiologist, a fellow for the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, and author of the book Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book: Every Woman’s Guide to a Heart-Healthy Life.

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  • Miho Tanaka, MD

    Director, Women’s Sports Medicine Program, Massachusetts General Hospital Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School

    Miho Tanaka, MD

    Director, Women’s Sports Medicine Program, Massachusetts General Hospital Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
    Dr. Tanaka is a sports medicine surgeon and Founding Director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Her primary research focus on the biomechanics, imaging and surgical anatomy of the knee has been supported by grants and awards from the Patellofemoral Foundation and Arthroscopy Association of North America. She serves as a team physician for the Boston Red Sox, Boston Glory, and Boston Ballet. She has interest in promoting advances in improving the understanding and prevention of injuries unique to female athletes, and is the founder of the Journal of Women’s Sports Medicine and co-founder of CORE2U, a digital platform for exercise education during pregnancy.

    Miho Tanaka, MD

    scholar.harvard.edu
    massgeneral.org

  • Connie Tyne

    Executive Director, Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health

    Connie Tyne

    Executive Director, Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health
    Connie Tyne has a passion for keeping people healthy, particularly women who have been underserved in health care. As the Executive Director of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health, Ms. Tyne promotes women’s health causes by funding research, providing education to healthcare professionals, and sponsoring community programs and health screenings for women and girls around the country.
    Video

    Connie Tyne, WHAM Collaborative Member

    Connie Tyne is the Executive Director of the Laura Bush Institute for Women’s Health at Texas Tech University.

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  • Annabelle Volgman, MD

    Founder and Medical Director, Rush Heart Center for Women Professor of Medicine, McMullan-Eybel Chair for Excellence in Clinical Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center

    Annabelle Volgman, MD

    Founder and Medical Director, Rush Heart Center for Women Professor of Medicine, McMullan-Eybel Chair for Excellence in Clinical Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center
    Dr. Annabelle Volgman is the co-founder and medical director of the Rush Heart Center for Women, the first heart program in Chicago devoted exclusively to women. Dr. Volgman has dedicated her career to helping women through prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Her research has been pivotal in atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia that disproportionately affects the risk of stroke in women. Dr. Volgman has written numerous abstracts and articles on women, stroke and heart disease. She is a prominent leader with the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign and was featured in O Magazine as Oprah Winfrey’s cardiologist.
    Video

    Dr. Annabelle Santos Volgman

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  • Janice Werbinski, MD, FACOG, FAMWA, NCMP

    Immediate Past President, American Medical Women's Association Clinical Associate Professor Emerita, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine (WMed)

    Janice Werbinski, MD, FACOG, FAMWA, NCMP

    Immediate Past President, American Medical Women's Association Clinical Associate Professor Emerita, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine (WMed)
    Dr. Janice Werbinski is a retired OB/GYN physician with a passion for women's empowerment and advancing education in sex and gender-based medicine to improve the health and healthcare of both women and men. She is former Medical Director of Bronson Women's Center, Borgess Women's Health, and the YWCA Sexual Assault Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She is board-certified in OB/GYN and a Certified Menopause Provider. She practiced Women's Health and Gynecology for 40 years, retiring from clinical practice in 2014.

  • Nicole Woitowich, PhD

    Executive Director, The WHAM Collaborative Research Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University Center Administrator, Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University

    Nicole Woitowich, PhD

    Executive Director, The WHAM Collaborative Research Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University Center Administrator, Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University
    Dr. Nicole Woitowich focuses on the evaluation of the biomedical research enterprise through various lenses, such as the integration of science outreach into existing research infrastructure, and the advancement of women and minorities in STEM and medicine to help bridge the gap in women’s health research. As Associate Director of the Women’s Health Research Institute at Northwestern University, Dr. Woitowich is a fierce advocate for expanded women’s health research, putting a spotlight on the effects of sex and gender on health.
    Video

    Dr. Nicole Woitowich, WHAM Collaborative Member

    Dr. Nicole Woitowich is the Center Administrator at the Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences at Northwestern University.

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  • Susan Wood, PhD

    Director, Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health Research Professor, Health Policy and Management, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health

    Susan Wood, PhD

    Director, Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health Research Professor, Health Policy and Management, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
    Dr. Susan Wood’s work and public advocacy focuses on the use of scientific knowledge in public policy. She previously was Assistant Commissioner for Women’s Health at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and directed the FDA Office of Women’s Health from 2000-2005 when she resigned on principle over continued delay of approval of over-the-counter emergency contraception. Prior to her time at FDA, Dr. Wood was Director of Policy and Program Development at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. Previously, Dr. Wood was a research scientist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; she received her PhD in biology from Boston University. She has published a number of research articles in scientific journals, as well as articles on health policy.

WHAM is dedicated to funding women’s health research and investment to transform women’s lives.

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WHAM was created in response to the considerable funding gap, historical exclusion, and underrepresentation of women in health research.

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