Improving Clinical Response to Sex-Specific Medicine: The Future of Women's Health at Northwestern

Since the passage of the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, mandating the inclusion of women in federally funded clinical trials, there has been a growing body of evidence that sex differences are found in all body systems beyond reproductive health. Sex differences can have significant and underestimated consequences in clinical medicine. New scientific and clinical interest is arising in sex- and gender-based medicine. There have been several recent movements from the NIH to advance women’s health research— particularly by publically drawing attention to the necessity of sex-specific research and medicine. Facilitating a one-day Sex-Based Medicine Symposium, that will help educate the medical community on the breadth of sex-sensitive clinics available at Northwestern, stages a new foundation for precision medicine. Being on the forefront of this national movement—through our WHRI Sex-Based Medicine Symposium—is critical for Northwestern Medicine. The objectives of this symposium are to highlight gender-based differences in diagnosis and treatment across all body systems, connect community clinicians to Northwestern Medicine through this translational approach, and tailor health care to women beyond the reproductive system.