Friday, March 8th is recognized around the world as International Women’s Day. Initially celebrated in March 1911, the day is for “collective global activism and celebration that belongs to all those committed to forging women’s equality.” This year’s theme, “Inspire Inclusion,” particularly resonates with the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)’s new mission, vision, and values.
The NAM is proud of its history of shaping science, care delivery, and policies for women’s health. From abortion rights to inclusion in clinical trials and biomedical research, the NAM (formerly the Institute of Medicine) has been at the forefront of women’s health issues since our inception in 1970.
A (non-exhaustive) list of reports from 1970-2020:
- Legalized Abortion and the Public Health (1975)
- Toxic Shock Syndrome: Assessment of Current Information and Future Research Needs (1982)
- Women and Health Research: Ethical and Legal Issues of Including Women in Clinical Studies (1994)
- Women’s Health Research: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise (2010)
- Clinical Preventive Services for Women: Closing the Gaps (2011)
- Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2018)
The NAM also addressed the necessary approach to the greatest problems in women’s health at the 2023 Annual Meeting, with an effort to understand the biology from the molecule up and then to translate that research into clinical care and public health interventions.
Panel discussion topics included the biological and social determinants of health, maternal and reproductive health, and healthy longevity for women. A digital literature collection featuring several resources on the topic was created for those attending the meeting virtually.
The NAM is also working with the broader National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on current issues in women’s health, including collaborating on the Standing Committee on Reproductive Health, Equity, and Society.
Highlighted upcoming meetings and recent work can be found below:
- The Impact of Burnout on Gender Equity in Science, Engineering, and Medicine (Upcoming Workshop)
- Reproductive Health, Equity, and Society: Exploring Data Challenges and Needs in the Wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Decision (Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief)
- Physician Perspectives and Workforce Implications Following the Repeal of Roe v. Wade (Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief)
- Assessment of NIH Research on Women’s Health (Upcoming Consensus Study)
- Challenges in the Provision of Lifesaving Care for Pregnant Patients Following the Overturn of Roe v. Wade (Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief)
- Toward a Framework to Improve Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials (Upcoming Workshop)
- State-Level Legal and Political Strategies Following the Repeal of Roe v. Wade (Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief)
The NAM annually commemorates Women’s History Month, celebrated in March, on our social media accounts. The campaign is viewable here: nam.edu/Womens-History-Month.
