Women Taking Charge of Their Lives and Health
Last month more than 230 women came together in Charlottesville to learn more about taking charge of their own health. They left more knowledgeable and confident.
“The symposium helps me feel more comfortable in starting a dialogue with my doctor about my concerns,” said a woman in her sixties. “I love learning about menopausal issues in a supportive environment that makes me want to share what I learn with my friends.”
Some 43 million women in the United States are currently reaching or in menopause, often with troubling menopausal symptoms. For the fourth year in a row, UVA’s Midlife Health Center has organized a spring educational symposium on women’s midlife health. With presentations ranging from the science of menopause and heart health to the benefits of mindfulness and yoga, the symposia offer something for everyone. The spring Women’s Midlife Health Symposium provides new and in-depth healthcare information for Midlife Center patients and friends. A fall symposium serves community women who may have limited access to critically needed health education. Together, these programs offer women up-to-date health information that is free and available to all.
The symposia are the brainchild of JoAnn Pinkerton, MD, director of UVA’s Midlife Health Center, one of the few centers in the country to specialize in caring for women over 40. Pinkerton is also executive director of the North American Menopause Society. The symposia are funded through the JoAnn Pinkerton Midlife Health Education Endowment, made possible by the philanthropic support of the Charlottesville-based Oakwood Foundation Charitable Trust.
“Increasingly, UVA is a leading site nationally for expertise in women’s health,” says Pinkerton. “Women in Charlottesville and the surrounding area deserve to be on the cutting-edge of what’s new and what’s coming in women’s health. I’m grateful for the Oakwood Foundation’s support and for our many other donors, including Stuart and Betsy Houston, and for the hard work and tireless efforts of our volunteer committees who help make the educational programs possible.”
“John and I value the importance of providing accurate and up-to-date health information to midlife women from all walks of life,” says Renee Grisham, a representative of the Oakwood Foundation, co-founder of the symposia, and a driving force in expanding the program to the community. “It’s inspiring to see so many women who are passionate about living their lives to the fullest and improving their health. We’re fortunate to have in Dr. Pinkerton a leading women’s health expert who is committed to sharing her knowledge.”
Looking ahead, Pinkerton hopes to create a research endowment for the Midlife Health Center aimed at generating new midlife health knowledge and pioneering cutting-edge clinical trials to test novel therapies for menopausal women.
