SWHR Featured in New Nursing Textbook

Chapter covers SWHR’s work in advocacy, education, and research for women’s health

Washington, DC (May 18, 2011) – Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) Board member and leader in women’s and infants’ health and research, Irma Goertzen, RN, MA wrote an exciting chapter on SWHR in the newly published textbook, Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 6^th Edition.

The new textbook features current analysis of healthcare policy and how nurses can directly influence change in today’s health care environment. Policy & Politics covers the 2010 healthcare reform law, community involvement and activism, and chapters detailing innovative work in today’s health non-profits.

“We are very pleased with the inclusion of SWHR’s history and impact on health research in the new textbook Policy & Politics,” said Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, President and CEO of SWHR. “Former SWHR Board Chair Irma Goertzen and Suzanne Stone did a wonderful job including all relevant SWHR achievements in this enlightening book for today’s nursing students. Hopefully this book chapter will inspire students to consider sex differences in their chosen career fields.”

Policy & Politics is published through Elseiver Sanders and edited by Diana J. Mason, Judith K. Leavitt, and Mary W. Chaffee. Purchase your copy today from any online retailer or from your local book store.

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For more information on the Society for Women’s Health Research please contact Rachel Griffith at 202-496-5001 or rachel@swhr.org.

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Annual OSSD Meeting to be Held June 2-4

WASHINGTON, DC (May 17, 2011) — The 5^th Annual Meeting of the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) is June 2-4 in Oklahoma City. The annual OSSD meeting encompasses new research into sex differences by prominent US and international researchers. This is the can’t-miss research event of the year!

The OSSD Annual Meeting is the leading forum for scientists to explore aspects of sex differences research at the genetic, molecular, cellular, organ, and system levels in various model systems. The field of sex-based biology is growing rapidly. This meeting promotes the understanding and dissemination of novel findings about how sex differences translate into human physiological and pathological processes throughout the lifespan.

Rates for the 3 day meeting at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City can be found at ossdweb.org but space is limited so REGISTER TODAY!

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For more information on the Society for Women’s Health Research please contact Rachel Griffith at 202-496-5001 or rachel@swhr.org.

OSSD is a non-profit, scientific membership society. OSSD was established in 2006 by the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR), with staffing provided by SWHR. Members include basic and clinical scientists from various disciplines who share an interest in exploring sex/gender differences in all areas of biological, medical, and behavioral science.

The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), a national non-profit organization based in Washington D.C., is widely recognized as the thought leader in women’s health research, particularly as sex differences impact health. SWHR’s mission is to improve the health of all women through advocacy, education and research. Visit SWHR’s website at www.swhr.org for more information.

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6th Annual SWHR Medtronic Prize Winner Announced

Washington, DC (May 10, 2011) — The 6^th annual Society for Women’s Health Research Medtronic Prize for Scientific Contributions to Women’s Health was presented to Dr. Denniz Zolnoun from the University of North Carolina at the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) 18^th Annual Gala Dinner on May 9, 2011.

The SWHR Medtronic Prize is given to a female scientist in her early to mid career who has devoted a significant part of her work to sex differences research and has served as a role model and mentor for both colleagues and students.

Zolnoun is a celebrated researcher at UNC specializing in women and gynecological pain. She received her BS in Biophysics from the University of California, her MD from the University of Illinois, and her MPH in Health Care Prevention from the University of North Carolina, where she is now an Associate Professor and Director of the Vulvar Pain Clinic.

Zolnoun’s area of research is pain mechanism, especially gynecological pelvic pain. Although persistent pain affects millions of women across the U.S., little is known about it in women. Zolnoun discovered that sensory nerves, perception, and dysfunction are well described and traced in men but not in women. Even anatomy books lack descriptions of these nerves, their point of origin, termination, and clinical perception, as they pertain specifically to women. Zolnoun has dedicated her research to closing this knowledge gap. She now strives to identify how sex differences affect sensory nerves in order to help determine the cause of women's pelvic pain and important clinical implications of this work.

“On behalf of millions of women with intractable pelvic pain I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to SWHR for their support of sex difference research while championing a higher standard in women’s health,” said Zolnoun. “I am honored and privileged to be an SWHR Medtronic Prize winner and look forward to continuing my research into pelvic pain and closing the gender gap in medical research.”

Zolnoun has over 20 peer reviewed publications in journals including: The International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Clinical Journal of Pain, and The Annual Review of Sex Research and has authored several book chapters. Currently, she reviews nine journals and serves on the North Carolina Medical Board as the Expert External Reviewer.

Along with the SWHR Medtronic Prize, Zolnoun’s research has been supported by grants from the National Vulvodynia Association, NC TraCS Institute, and the Center for Neurosensory Disorders.

SWHR congratulates Dr. Zolnoun on her accomplishments and her work advancing sex differences research.

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For more information on the Society for Women’s Health Research please contact Rachel Griffith at 202-496-5001 or Rachel@swhr.org.

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