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GENDER MEDICINE/VOL. 9, NO. 1S, 2012

Introduction

The 2010 Annual Sex and Gender Research Forum at DrexelUniversity and Drexel University College of Medicine: AnInstitute for Women’s Health and Leadership InitiativeOwen Montgomery, MD; Michele Follen, MD, PhD; andSandra Urdaneta-Hartmann, MD, PhD, MBADepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia,Pennsylvania

This event marks the 2010 Sex and Gender Forum at Drexel University College of Medicine and DrexelUniversity. This forum is among the research events that combine both the College of Medicine and theUniversity. There are other research forums that are separate at each entity: Discovery Day at the Collegeof Medicine and Research Day at the University. Additionally, each school and college of the University,each clinical department at the College of Medicine, and each basic science department and researchinstitute at the College of Medicine hold their own research forums once or several times per year. Anadvantage and challenge of this forum has been to reach out to both entities to summarize the workperformed that addresses Sex and Gender Research across all of Drexel.

We believe the forum has had an impact on the U.S. News & World Report rankings at Drexel. Overall,rexel University was ranked 2nd in the country for “up and coming” universities, 16th in Women’sealth, 86th as a university, and 88th as a college of medicine. The history of Drexel University and Drexelniversity College of Medicine further explains these rankings.Drexel University, a private university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was founded December 17,

891, by Anthony J. Drexel. At that time it was known as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry.r. Drexel’s intent was noted to be revolutionary by former President Dr. Constantine Papadakis, in his

edication for the 110th anniversary of Drexel, which he gave for the Newcomen Society on December 6,001. “In the 19th century only 1% of the nation’s youth were college educated and the mission of mostrivate and land-grant colleges was preparing young men from upper class families for careers in theinistry, law, medicine, or business. . . Mr. Drexel had a different purpose in mind: He hoped to empower

oung urban working class men and women to improve their station in life. . . The Drexel Institute wasocated close to city rail and streetcar lines and had unprecedented features such as low tuition, nightlasses, and free public lectures and concerts. Above all it provided instruction in practical subjects thatould help students find better jobs. . .” Dr. Papadakis truly understood the spirit of Mr. Drexel anddmired his intention to serve all men and women.

Acknowledgements: NIH NCI CA82710-09, Lynn Yeakel and the IWHL staff, Katherine Sherif, and Ana Nunez.doi:10.1016/j.genm.2011.08.004

© 2012 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc. All rights reserved. 1550-8579/$ - see front matter

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Drexel University has expanded to include 13educational entities, including the College of Artsand Sciences, Bennett S. LeBow College of Busi-ness, School of Education (Goodwin College), Col-lege of Engineering, Pennoni Honors College, Col-lege of Information Science and Technology, EarleMack School of Law, Antoinette Westphal Collegeof Media Arts & Design, School of Technology andProfessional Studies (Goodwin College), and 4 in-stitutions of health studies: Drexel University Col-lege of Medicine, College of Nursing and HealthProfessions, School of Biomedical Engineering andHealth Systems, and School of Public Health.

Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree pro-grams exist throughout Drexel University. Mr. Drex-el’s personal concept of “making the university prac-tical” exists today as the “co-op” requirement inwhich students work in industry for academic creditas part of their educational process. Each school andcollege has kept this “experience in the real world” asa priority in the education of students in their disci-pline. This is the link between what Drexel was his-torically and is now in the present.

The College of Medicine became part of DrexelUniversity under the enlightened leadership of Dr.Papadakis in 2002. For the purpose of this reviewfocusing on women’s health, Drexel UniversityCollege of Medicine (DUCOM) existed prior to2002 as 2 major institutions. Founded in 1848 and1850, respectively, the Homeopathic College ofPennsylvania (which became Hahnemann Medi-cal College in 1869) and the Woman’s MedicalCollege of Pennsylvania (WMCP) were unique andsignificant Philadelphia institutions. From 1848 tothe latter half of the 20th century, WMCP andHahnemann Medical College served promisingwomen and minorities who faced discriminationand social barriers in medical education at otherinstitutions. Today, DUCOM continues that tradi-tion of excellence and diversity in medical educa-tion created by its predecessor institutions.

When WMCP was created in 1850, it was thefirst medical school in the world to provide med-ical education exclusively for women. In its earlydays, it faced serious opposition from the malemedical establishment. Prevailing notions held

that women were too feeble-minded to succeed in C

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he demanding arena of academic medicine andoo delicate to endure the physical requirements oflinical practice. In 1866, Ann Preston, MD, aember of the College’s first graduating class, be-

ame the first woman ever to hold the position ofean at a medical school. The Medical College ofennsylvania merged with Hahnemann Univer-ity in 1993. This same year, the College becamehe first medical school in the country to com-letely integrate women’s health issues into itsurriculum instead of offering just an occasionalecture or optional elective. Today, women are dis-roportionately represented at DUCOM, outnum-ering male peers by �10%. Minorities and peoplef color are also well represented, outnumberingaucasians by �20%.DUCOM is made up of numerous academic de-

artments, offices, and institutes that apply fornd are awarded funding. The academic depart-ents are Anesthesiology, Biochemistry, Clinical

kills, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, In-ormation Medical Sciences, Medicine (subdepart-

ents: the Cancer Center, Cardiology, Gastroen-erology, General Internal Medicine, Heart Failure,IV, Infectious Disease, Nephrology, Pulmonary,heumatology, and the Women’s Health Educa-ion Program), Microbiology and Immunology,eurobiology and Anatomy, Neurology, Obstet-

ics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedicurgery, Pathology, Pediatrics, Pharmacology andhysiology, Psychiatry, Surgery, and the Dean’sffice. There are 3 Institutes at DUCOM: the Insti-

ute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Dis-ase, the Institute for Women’s Health and Lead-rship, and Drexel Institute for Biotechnology andirology Research.The basic sciences at DUCOM are represented at

2 cross-disciplinary research centers of excel-ence: Molecular and Functional Genomics, Im-

unology and Vaccine Science, Molecular Parasi-ology, Bacterial Pathogenesis and Biodefense,linical and Translational Research, Scientific Ad-inistration and Training, Virology and Thera-

eutics, Cancer Biology, Immunogenetics andnflammatory Disease, Neuroimmunology and

entral Nervous System Therapeutics, Molecular

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Virology and Translational Neuroscience, and Sci-entific Communication and Outreach.

The medical school offers an MD program, mas-ter’s and doctoral degrees in Biomedical GraduateStudies, MD-based dual-degree programs, Postdoc-toral Studies, Professional Studies in the HealthSciences, and Continuing Medical Education.

The Institute for Women’s Health and Leader-ship (IWHL) was founded in 1993 and is structuredas an organizational unit that initiates, sponsors,administers, and coordinates a wide range of pro-grams and services that advance both women’shealth and leadership. IWHL was designated as avanguard “National Center of Excellence in Wom-en’s Health” in 1996 by the National Institutes ofHealth.

The core programs currently supported by theInstitute are (1) Vision 2020: The Unfinished Busi-ness of Women’s Equality; (2) International Cen-ter for Executive Leadership in Academics (for-merly the Executive Leadership Program inAcademic Medicine); (3) Legacy Center: Archivesand Special Collections; (4) Woman One Awardand Scholarship Fund; (5) Conversations aboutWomen’s Health Research; and (6) the Center forResearch. There are related center activities: GEM(Gender and Ethnic Medicine) Program, PhillyGirls Play Chess, Marion Spencer Fay Award (anannual award given to a prominent woman scien-tist or scholar); and the annual Sex and GenderResearch Forum. Affiliated programs within theDepartment of Medicine at DUCOM are the Cen-ter for Women’s Health and the Women’s HealthEducation Program (WHEP).

The IWHL has a long history of focused effortand success. The leadership of Lynn Yeakel, MSM,is outstanding and permeates the atmosphere atDUCOM and Drexel University. Coming from thenontraditional background of government service,Yeakel served in the US Department of Health andHuman Services and ran in a senate race againstincumbent Arlen Spector. Her strategic thinking,organizational skills, and communication skillshave launched projects like Vision 2020, whichencompasses the success of women in all domainsof American Society. Her plan is to impact women

internationally. Yeakel recently published her e

emoirs in a book entitled A Will and a Way.eakel has convened many events, which includeuccessful women from all domains of society. Sheas made the medical school famous and, un-oubtedly, the ranking of 16th in Women’s Health

s partially from her influence.Vision 2020, although not limited to health in

cope, is attracting national and international at-ention with its “Conversation about Equality”nd outstanding exhibit on women’s history at theational Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The

xhibit resides next to the “Founders of the Amer-can Constitution” exhibit, likely the most popularne in the National Constitution Center. Visitorso the exhibit of the founders can sign the consti-ution as part of the exhibit. Next door, at theWHL’s Vision 2020 Women’s History exhibit, vis-tors can vote for the Equal Rights Amendment.

The International Center for Executive Leader-hip in Academics (formerly Executive Leadershiprogram in Academic Medicine), run by Dr. Diane. Magrane, was recently awarded the prestigiousssociation of American Medical Colleges Women

n Medicine Leadership Development Award. Thisype of national recognition would impress deansresent at the national meeting of this critically

mportant organization that facilitates many ad-inistrative aspects of medical school function,

ationally and internationally. The Hedwig vanmeringen Executive Leadership in Academicedicine (ELAM) Program for women is the na-

ion’s only in-depth program focused on preparingenior women faculty at schools of medicine, den-istry, and public health for institutional leader-hip positions in which they can effect positivehange. ELAM’s year-long program develops therofessional and personal skills required to leadnd manage in today’s complex health care envi-onment, with special attention given to thenique challenges facing women in leadership po-itions. Nearly 700 senior women leaders have par-icipated in the program since 1995. ELAM alum-ae make up 25% of the executive positions incademic medicine and dentistry that are held byomen. Very recently, the program has expanded

o accept engineering faculty, and a National Sci-

nce Foundation Award Application was submit-

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ted to support this effort. Two Drexel Engineeringfaculty members have been in the program to date.Dr. Magrane commented that the barriers in engi-neering are more similar to those in medicine,dentistry, and public health than they are differ-ent. This finding affirms that the program canhave a broad impact across many disciplines forwomen in academia. Additionally, Page Morahan,PhD, founder of ELAM, has been awarded NationalInstitutes of Health funding to study factors thatinfluence women’s careers in science in conjunc-tion with investigators at the University of NewMexico. Dr. Morahan is engaging in analyzingyears of meticulously collected data from partici-pants and will be using cluster analysis statisticalmethodology in future analyses.

The Legacy Center, which contains archives andcollections on the history of women in medicine,is an outstanding and unique resource of theIWHL. Leaders within the archive center have pre-served internationally compelling photographsand artifacts that chronicle more than a centuryand a half of inspiring stories of women in medi-cine and other important histories of Hahnemannas a naturopathic hospital. The collections are be-ing made accessible digitally and focus on womenin medicine, women’s health, medical education,and homeopathy from the mid–19th century tothe present. Fellowships support international andnational scholars to study these artifacts that ex-plore the history of medicine.

Woman One is a highly successful recognitionprogram that honors women who have demon-strated exceptional leadership ability and thatraises scholarship funds for under-represented mi-nority women studying medicine. We hope tochronicle these efforts in a future publication. Abrief survey of existing data shows that many ofthe scholars serve in underserved areas when theypractice medicine after training.

Conversations is a novel program of outreach toseveral diverse communities to deliver informa-tion on women’s health. Led by Lynn Yeakel, theprogram has been presented to large communitiesof elderly patients, under-represented minoritiesin church and community settings, and even chil-

dren through school-organized events. “Candid in w

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ts style and clear in its content, the conversationsake the mystery out of medicine through open fo-ums that are interactive dialogues among healthare experts, Lynn as facilitator, and women anden of all generations. No lectures, no power

oints. . .just information about one’s health andow to improve it.”The Institute supports and helps sponsor the

enter for Women’s Health, a multidisciplinaryodel for clinical care led by Katherine Sherif,D. Dr. Sherif is an internist with a large practice

nd research interest in polycystic ovarian disease,ne of the most compelling and complicated dis-ases affecting women; this disease affects thevary leading to infertility, but is related to insulinnsensitivity and diabetes. Dr. Sherif currentlyeads community health events and hosts a semi-ar series that includes practitioners from all dis-iplines in women’s health, both inside internaledicine and across the general medical commu-

ity. She plans clinical research in the center in theuture in collaboration with the Center for Re-earch at the IWHL. This center also contributeso the ranking of Drexel as 16th in Women’sealth Research.Ana Nuñez, MD, the director of the Women’sealth Education Program, is the recipient of 6

wards from the National Institutes of Health andeveral foundations for her work on women’sealth in the community, and this funding, un-oubtedly, makes Drexel very competitive in thisrea. Dr. Nuñez leads not only the medical studentducation but also the community outreach proj-ct “Philadelphia Ujima.”WHEP is responsible for providing lectures onomen’s health topics for first- through fourth-ear medical students. Topics covered in the lec-ures include Orientation to Women’s Health; In-roduction to Women’s Health and Sex andender Medicine; Personal Attitudes Towards Re-roductive Options; Domestic Violence; Culturaliversity; Diagnosis and Management of Victimsf Assault; Eating Disorders; Role of Culture inedical Education and Clinical Care; Women’sealth and Prevention; and Lesbian Health. WHEP

lso leads the Women’s Health Seminar Series, a

eekly series offered between October and Febru-

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ary that focuses on the interests of first- and sec-ond-year medical students (but is open to allstudents).

The Philadelphia Ujima: Mind-Spirit-Body Health(MSBH) Collaborative is a collaborative model thatuses community participatory research, ecological,and chronic disease model approaches. Specifi-cally, the initiative is designed to decrease healthdisparities among Philadelphia’s most vulnerableand underserved populations in order to reach tar-geted Healthy People 2010 objectives. Ujima is ho-listic, and gender informed in promoting healthand behavior change. It employs individualchange (“ground up”) and traditional social net-works for reinforcing behavior. MSBH delivers andreinforces health messages where people live andcongregate, so the Collaborative members includefaith- and community-based organizations. Ujimaoriginates from a Kwanzaa principle, meaning“collective work and responsibility.”

According to the Ujima 2009 annual report.

Philadelphia Ujima has completed its sec-ond year. Data we collected reveal someremarkable statistics. These numbers tell astory about motivated organizations andcommunity groups where individuals seekto improve their own health and the healthof their friends and family. The statisticsalso reveal how Philadelphia Ujima hasmoved from a very good idea to full imple-mentation. We approach our mission byproviding innovative health education andbringing the skills and talents of our col-laborators to shape a vision of a healthiercommunity. The past years were full ofmany accomplishments. We have encoun-tered hundreds of people that share ourbelief in the power of many to makechange. Philadelphia Ujima has fosteredcollaborations with many academic, reli-gious, and social service agencies to pro-vide not only health education, but to alsoserve as a catalyst by connecting individu-als to medical, behavioral and other sup-port services. In October 2009, we trained28 individuals from our community sitepartners as Lay Health Workers. Since then,our program has expanded to teachers andyouth workers and first and second year

medical students at Drexel College of Med- P

icine. To date, Philadelphia Ujima hasreached over 1500 people with health edu-cation programming. As you read this an-nual report, you will see that this reflectsthe hard work and determination of ourmany partners and stakeholders to fulfillour mission, which is to improve healthoutcomes, promote health advocacy, andsupport system level change. As Philadel-phia Ujima enters its third year, our focuswill be on completing our plans for thefuture so that we can continue to workwith our partners to help reduce healthdisparities and improve the quality of lifefor all.

Ujima hosts many events. Three examples ofvent topics are nutrition, heart disease, and com-unity involvement. The topic of discussion onpril 29, 2010 was Using the Food Label to Makeiser Food Choices. Participants learned how to

se nutrition labels to make quick, informed foodhoices that contribute to a healthy diet and pre-ention of many chronic diseases. They alsoearned how to select foods based on the percent-ge of total fat per serving, calories, sodium, andholesterol. Dr. Nuñez has found many creativeays to get across nutritional health informationnd make it accessible in relevant languages in theommunities served.Another session, held on May 27, 2010 was

alled 5 Heart Disease Prevention Strategies thatveryone Needs to Know. This event hoped to givearticipants a solid understanding of how to main-ain a healthy heart throughout their lifespan.hey were told that heart disease is the leadingause of death for both women and men, but thathere are several heart disease prevention stepshat everyone can take. Attendees learned how tovoid heart problems in the future by adopting aealthy lifestyle today. This type of event is anpportunity to learn about heart disease risk andow to do something about the risk factors thatan be controlled.The University community was invited to the

econd and third annual Family, Fun, Fitness andealth Day on May 15, 2010 and February 10,011. These events provided an opportunity for

hiladelphia Ujima’s partners, collaborators, pro-

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gram participants, and the Drexel community tocome together for a day of fun and interactiveworkshops about health, nutrition, fitness, stress,and building healthy relationships. There were ac-tivities for the whole family to enjoy, includingfree food, giveaways, fitness demonstrations, andresource tables.

In addition, Dr. Nuñez hosts medical studenteducation research projects as part of her commit-ment to research in this area of community health.Ujima hosts several interactive Web sites that con-tain video information and also maintains a Face-book site.

The IWHL also collaborates with the Office ofGovernment and Community Relations, whichserves as a liaison between the University and thecommunity at large.

The office of the Chancellor Emeritus, Dr. D.Walter Cohen, DDS, resides within the IWHL. Adistinguished leader in dentistry and oral medi-cine nationally and internationally, Dr. Cohen isknown to Drexel as the “father of Women’s Healthand Leadership.” His visionary and continuedleadership has been critical to fundraising for boththe ELAM program and for the Betty A. CohenChair in Women’s Health. He has also been instru-mental in helping to develop the Legacy Center,helping to make a permanent home for these col-

lections of historical significance.

brian.crain@drexelmed.edu.

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The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologyis the recipient of a Program Project: Optical Tech-nologies and Molecular Imaging in Cervical Neo-plasia, a disease of impoverished women in theUnited States, Canada, and Nigeria. The focus ofthis research is the development of optical tech-nologies that can make a “real-time” diagnosis ofcervical cancer. Projects run the gamut of technol-ogy assessment, including biological plausibility,technical efficacy, clinical effectiveness, patientand provider satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness.The program project is supported by 4 core areas:Administration, Biostatistics, Instrumentation,and Pathology.

In this issue of Gender Medicine we have pre-sented efforts on quantifying the research infra-structure that exists at DUCOM and Drexel in thespecific area of Sex and Gender Research. We pres-ent abstracts submitted for presentation at the fo-rum, as well as manuscripts by investigators asso-ciated with the event. Next year, we plan toinclude a broad selection of original research bypresenters, attendees, and leaders in the field of sexand gender research from within and outside ofthe Drexel community. As the Sex and GenderResearch Forum grows, we look forward to bring-ing together multidisciplinary groups of investiga-

tors every year.

Address correspondence to: Brian T. Crain, 245 N. 15th Street, MS 495, Philadelphia, PA 19102. E-mail: