Former first lady Laura W. Bush delivered remarks in Amarillo today to show her support for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s (TTUHSC) Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health (LWBIWH). The mission of the LWBIWH is to create an enduring, positive impact on the health and well-being of women and their families in West Texas and beyond.

“Women across the country and around the world need answers to their unique health issues,” Bush said. “The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health is committed to finding these answers.”

Bush addressed these important differences at a luncheon supporting the LWBIWH and its research and educational programs, along with Texas Tech University System Chancellor Kent Hance and TTUHSC President Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.

“We are very grateful to have Mrs. Bush’s continued support of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and are honored to have her as the namesake of our institute,” Hance said.

Many health discoveries and/or recommendations that apply to men may be different for women. More than 90 percent of national medical recommendations are based on a majority of research performed on men. For example, women are 50 percent more likely than men to have adverse reactions to prescription drugs, yet most drugs do not have different dosages based on a patient’s gender.

In an effort to address these differences, the LWBIWH is spearheading a project with the TTUHSC School of Medicine to develop an innovative, four-year longitudinal medical education curriculum focusing on women’s health and medicine.

This unique education is a rising discipline that focuses on the differing medical needs of men and women. It is based on scientific discoveries that have been made in the past 15 years. The LWBIWH is bringing this information to the forefront of professional health care education.

“The LWBIWH is proud to be a leader in the nation in women’s health and gender-based medicine for healthcare providers, students, and consumers, thanks to the efforts of our community businesses, organizations, and individuals,” said LWBIWH Executive Director Laura Street.

The LWBIWH also is developing a lecture series for doctors, nurses and pharmacists. This series will educate health care providers about differences in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of common health issues among men and women.

For more breaking news and experts, follow @ttuhscnews on Twitter.