“Women are second-class citizens when it comes to health.” – World Economic Forum.
In an age of remarkable scientific progress, a sobering reality persists: women’s health remains a critically underserved domain of medicine. The inaugural Women’s Health Summit, launching on Thursday, September 28, in San Antonio, Texas, aims to change this narrative by igniting a much-needed, long-awaited revolution in women’s healthcare.
This first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary educational experience has been meticulously crafted to deliver actionable insights and expertise; thoughtfully curated and guided by acclaimed specialists, the Summit is orchestrated by the industry’s most esteemed institutions and their preeminent thought leaders.
The Current State of Women’s Health: A Crisis Unfolding
The status of women’s health and healthcare continues to deteriorate both in the United States and around the world, with widespread accessibility barriers, insufficient medical training, and a paucity of female-focused research contributing to vast outcome disparities between genders.
Studies reveal that women experience an average diagnosis delay of four years compared to men across over 750 diseases. Despite comprising half of the global population, women remain largely understudied and underrepresented in medical research and clinical settings.
The jarring statistics below illustrate the severity of the problem at hand:
• Women lose 75 million years of life annually due to the gender health gap
• Women endure 25% more time in “poor health” than men
• 96% of women experience heightened adverse effects from drugs with apparent sex-specific differences
• 80% of all new autoimmune disease cases occur in women
• 80% of women under 40 lack adequate menopause knowledge
• Only 6.8% of physicians feel equipped to manage menopause symptoms
• Endometriosis diagnoses can take up to 11 years
• Merely 12% of Alzheimer’s research focuses on women, despite them constituting two-thirds of patients
These figures reflect a systemic failure in addressing women’s health needs. Female patients frequently report overlooked or dismissed symptoms, leading to extensive delays in accurate diagnoses and treatments. The repercussions of clinical neglect are far-reaching, affecting not only individual lives but global population health.
The Root of the Problem: Persistent Gaps
At the core of the women’s health crisis lies a substantial gap in medical research and attention. Historically, clinical trials have predominately focused on male subjects, resulting in a limited understanding of female-specific health conditions. This bias extends to medical education, with less than 30% of medical schools incorporating gender-specific topics in their curriculum.
Consequently, the primary healthcare system struggles to meet the unique physical, behavioral, and social needs of women. Various barriers, including gaps in medical training, biases, time constraints, and inadequate awareness of gender-specific health issues, hinder the primary healthcare system’s ability to serve women effectively.
With each passing day, the women’s health crisis spirals out of control. Its trajectory is clear and devastating. Each new investigation and report confirms that the problem’s size and scope are only magnifying.
This is the starting point — and it’s also the turning point.
The Women’s Health Summit
A Multi-disciplinary Approach To A Multifaceted Problem
The Women’s Health Summit aims to bridge these gaps, equipping healthcare practitioners with the knowledge and tools to address women’s diverse needs.
This landmark event leverages the collective expertise of the Informa Connect Medical Division, including A4M, Cardiometabolic Health Congress, LiVDerm, PAINWeek, The Medical Aesthetics Professionals Meeting, and BRAINWeek.
Unlike most women’s health conferences that focus solely on reproductive health, the upcoming event covers a spectrum of female-specific illnesses, addressing high-risk diseases prevalent in women and offering a holistic understanding of the challenges they face.
Cross-Disciplinary Curriculum For Integrative Care
With achieving whole-woman wellness as the goal, the event’s educational program integrates the latest evidence-based techniques and methodologies from various disciplines, offering a truly functional, integrative medicine approach to patient care.
Adolescent health concerns, fertility, cardiovascular risks, and mental health are just a few of the urgent topics across body systems and specialties to be addressed at the Summit. The agenda also includes:
• Adolescent health and social media impacts
• Reproductive health and fertility
• Cardiovascular risks specific to women
• Cancer prevention and treatment
• Dermatological concerns
• Pain management
• Mental health
• Menopause and hormone balance
• Obesity and metabolic health
• Longevity and healthy aging
From managing common chronic conditions to unraveling complex cases, the curriculum equips participants with the tools to craft personalized treatment strategies that address the intricate biopsychosocial needs of female patients. Beyond merely managing health conditions, the program provides innovative approaches to optimize women’s health throughout their lifespan, from early adolescence through advanced age.
Women Leading The Charge
An illustrious faculty panel representing over 720 years of collective wisdom and expertise has been selected to share their insights on the Summit stage.
Four featured speakers, each a prominent leader in their respective field, are set to offer their visionary perspectives.
Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA
An obesity medicine physician scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Stanford bridges the intersection of medicine, public health, policy, and disparities. Her presentation, “Redefining Obesity,” promises to shed new light on this widely prevalent condition and its myriad implications for women’s wellness.
Molly Maloof, MD
Known for her mission to extend healthspan and maximize human performance radically, Dr. Maloof is at the cutting edge of personalized medicine and health optimization. Her talk on “Next-Level Wellness: Biohacking for Women” will explore innovative approaches to women’s health and longevity.
Shimi Kang, MD
Dr. Kang, an award-winning Harvard-trained physician, provides science-based solutions for health, happiness, and achievement, focusing on adolescent mental health. Her presentation, “The Benefits and Risks of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health,” will address a critical issue affecting young women in the digital age.
Maddy Dychtwald
Recognized by Forbes as one of the top fifty female futurists globally, Dychtwald has explored all aspects of the aging process and how emerging innovations transform lives. Her talk, “Ageless Aging: A Women’s Guide,” will provide insights into navigating the unique challenges and opportunities of longevity for women.
Practical Skills
Diving deep into sex-specific health issues often overlooked yet critical to safe, effective care, the Summit will extend far beyond traditional medical education. Attendees will gain actionable, practical strategies to immediately implement into their practice, refining their clinical protocols and elevating patient outcomes.
Innovative Solutions
The Summit also features a robust exhibitor lineup showcasing cutting-edge solutions across specialties, offering a comprehensive view of women’s health innovation. From advanced imaging technologies to novel therapeutic approaches, attendees can access the latest tools and treatments designed specifically for women’s health needs.
Expertise United
One of the most valuable aspects of the Summit is the unparalleled networking and collaboration opportunities, uniting diverse specialists with a shared purpose: to revolutionize women’s health.
Within such a dynamic environment, cross-specialty dialogues, knowledge sharing, and discussions on addressing barriers will flourish, ultimately breaking down silos and promoting synergistic initiatives that promise to bridge long-standing gaps in the field.
Summit Ripple Effects: The Women’s Health Revolution
The forthcoming Women’s Health Summit holds immense potential to catalyze meaningful change in women’s healthcare. Upon departing, every participating professional will be equipped to become an agent of change in their community, applying their newfound knowledge to benefit patients through more accurate, timely diagnoses and tailored treatment plans. This ripple effect could lead to improved health outcomes for women across all life stages and shift the entire healthcare system toward a more equitable, informed, effective, and, most importantly, accessible model of care for women.
By attending, healthcare professionals can become part of a movement that aims to transform women’s health, close the outcomes gap, and add years to life and life to years.
Want to be a part of the solution? Join the women’s health revolution.
Last call! Time is running out to register for the Women’s Health Summit, taking place in only a matter of days in San Antonio, TX, from September 26-28, 2024.