HSC to host Sixth Annual Ralph J. Anderson, M.D. Women’s Health Symposium
Editor’s Note: This event has been canceled.
Extending maternal care after pregnancy, health disparities and health equity are just a few topics that experts from around the country will explore during the Sixth Annual Ralph J. Anderson, M.D. Women’s Health Symposium.
The symposium will be from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, at the Amon Carter Center at Lena Pope, 3200 Sanguinet St.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s Division of Academic Innovation is producing the event. Doctors Priya Bui and Timothy Kremer are co-chairs.
This year, national experts will discuss contemporary approaches to women’s health across the care continuum. The event is open to the public. Attendees can earn up to 8.5 continuing education credits, including ethics and professional responsibility credits.
“This event is a significant gathering of experts in the women’s health space, which reaches physicians, nurses, health care professionals, students and community workers,” said Bui, who is also chair of HSC’s Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health. “We know we have room for improvement when it comes to the care of women in health care, and this conference is an opportunity to visit best practices and continue the important conversations for continued improvement.
When people think of women’s health, the first topics that often come to mind are gynecological concerns, such as infertility, menopause, pregnancy and childbirth, as well as breast health. However, women’s health is complex and multilayered.
Many health issues affect women differently from men and in ways that have an impact on diagnosis and care. For instance, a heart attack may present different symptoms in a woman, putting her at risk of a misdiagnosis. Women also still face barriers to quality care — particularly those women suffering from poorly understood autoimmune disorders.
Both doctors and nurses prescribe less pain medication to women than men after surgery, even though women report more frequent pain and severe pain levels. Women also are more likely to be told their pain is “psychosomatic,” or influenced by emotional distress. In a survey of more than 2,400 women with chronic pain, 83% said they had experienced gender discrimination from their health care providers.
These topics and more will be discussed at length with some of the world’s brightest minds in women’s health.
“I aim to facilitate meaningful discussions that not only highlight the challenges and opportunities in women’s health but also provide actionable strategies to address them,” said Dr. Meaghan Nelsen, a professor in HSC’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine. “Ultimately, my goal is to catalyze positive change in patient care, fostering a collaborative environment where we collectively strive for excellence and advancements in women’s health care.”
The event will kick off at 7:45 a.m. with a welcome and introduction from Bui and Kremer, an obstetrician-gynecologist who was a professor at HSC for eight years. Starting at 8:15 a.m., presentations will be given by different speakers.
At 4:30 p.m., the Inaugural Student and Resident Showcase will take place. Student presenter Victoria Panzanaro and Kremer, her faculty mentor, will present “Delivering Care in Vulnerable Populations.”
The symposium’s namesake was a longtime professor and chair of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s obstetrics and gynecology program. Anderson passed away in 2017, and this event is meant to honor his lifelong dedication to advancing women’s health.
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