WAA program offers insights on women’s health

One of the greatest health challenges facing women today is finding consensus on treatment. Leading women faculty from UW–Madison will tackle the tough questions on treatment options and hot-button issues like hormone replacement therapy and osteoporosis at the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s Cabinet 99 Symposium Nov. 8-9.

Professor Connie Kraus will offer a clinical pharmacist’s perspective in a discussion about hormone replacement therapy – a topic that had received much media attention in recent months. In addition, law professor and cancer survivor Meg Gaines and nursing professor Barb Bowers will demonstrate how their work with the UW’s Center for Patient Partnerships is changing how health care providers interact with their patients. Pharmacy professor Beth Elliot will share her osteoporosis research and discuss recent developments. And with so many important studies announcing findings from fieldwork, Judy Van Kirk from the School of Medicine’s Office of Clinical Trials explains the importance and relevance of clinical trials to the typical patient.

“The Cabinet 99 Symposium is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the amazing work of women researchers on this campus, while also allowing women to learn important information from respected faculty,” says Paula Bonner, WAA’s president and CEO. “We are proud to support women both on and off campus through this event.”

The symposium program also includes a presentation of the $10,000 Faculty and Staff Recognition Award to physics professor Bernice Durand. Durand has been a pioneer for women in science since her youth and came to Madison in 1970 as the only female lecturer in the physics department. Over the last 30 years, Durand has helped shape the campus climate at UW–Madison. In the last three years, she has chaired the chancellor search and screen committee, the executive committee of the faculty and the Plan 2008 committee, and today, she chairs the athletic board. During the summers, Durand stays up-to-date in her research field of theoretical particle physics at the Aspen Center for Physics.

Cabinet 99, a WAA initiative, strives to create an influential and dynamic network of women to support leadership development, mentoring, and advocacy policies and programs affecting women at the university. It gives out its Faculty and Staff Recognition Award at its biennial fall meeting. A full schedule for the 2002 symposium is attached. For more information and to register for the symposium, visit http://uwalumni.com/cabinet99.