Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health and Fort Worth Mayor to Present Women’s Health Symposium

• By Jessica Bagwell
• August 5, 2016

News Release

 

April 13, 2014

CONTACT:      Jessica Bagwell, Jessica.Bagwell@ttuhsc.edu

                          (806) 743-7610

  

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health will present the “Female Focus: Differences Matter” women’s health symposium to bring attention to the importance of personalized medicine and highlight medical differences between men and women that are critical to health and longevity with regard to heart disease, hormones and brain health. These topics are central to the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health, which works to promote health through scientific investigation, translation of science into practice, and provide outreach that impacts the community.

 

The institute was established in August 2007 to pioneer a new approach to women’s health care that would consider the many differences between men and women that affect their health. Since its establishment, the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health has funded research projects in sex and gender medicine, organized community events, such as GiRL Power and Girls Night Out, across Texas and provided women’s health services in underserved Texas populations.

 

“The impact of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health continues to grow with events like this symposium,” said Connie Tyne, M.S., executive director of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health. “It’s a pleasure to support the mayor’s Blue Zone Project and collaborate with our colleagues at the University of North Texas Health Science Center to bringing new information about maintaining healthy hearts and brains to our Fort Worth friends.”

 

In addition to ongoing efforts with FitWorth, a healthy city initiative and public engagement efforts like walking and rolling town halls, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price announced in 2014 that the city was joining the Blue Zone Project as part of the Healthiest City Initiative. The Blue Zone Project, which has been adopted in a number of U.S. cities, encourages changes in communities that lead to healthier options. According to the Blue Zone Project, these changes can in turn create benefits, such as lower health care costs, improved productivity and a higher quality of life. Price said that the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health was an ideal organization to feature as part of the Fort Worth Healthiest City Initiative, since it has a reputation of promoting individually inspired health for all of Texans.   

 

“We’re honored to host this Women’s Health Symposium with the Laura Bush Institute for Women’s Health in Fort Worth” said Mayor Betsy Price. “In strong partnership with the University of North Texas Health Science Center, our local initiatives like FitWorth and Blue Zone Project Fort Worth and individual citizens, we’re changing the landscape of health and wellness in our community.”

In addition to opening remarks by Former First Lady Laura W. Bush, the event will feature presentations by national experts in sex and gender medicine. Keynote speakers will include:

“Focus on the Heart”

Wayne Isom, M.D., professor of cardiothoracic surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center

 

“Focus on Hormones and the Brain”

Meharvan “Sonny” Sing, Ph.D., dean of the University of North Texas Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and professor of pharmacy and neuroscience, and Rebecca Cunningham, Ph.D., assistant professor University of North Texas Health Science Center Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Disease Research

 

“Focus on Sex and Gender: Differences Matter”

Marjorie Jenkins, M.D., Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health chief scientific officer and director of medical initiatives and policy advancement at the Food and Drug Administration Office of Women’s Health

 

Chairmen for the event are Kit Moncrief, Price and Lee Ann and Alan White.  PlainsCapital Bank is underwriting the event. For more information about the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health and its events, visit www.laurabushinstitute.org.

 

[Editor’s Note: Media must RSVP at least 48 hours in advance, submit to a background check and provide their full name, date of birth, social security number and a description of equipment to be used. Media should arrive at least two hours before the event for security clearance. Late arrivals will not be permitted. To RSVP, contact Cheraya Peña, press security for the mayor and city council, at (817) 392-6363 or Cheraya.Arthur@fortworthtexas.gov.]