The Women's Health Research and Wellbeing Workgroup

The Women's Health Research and Wellbeing Workgroup (WHRWB) of The New York Academy of Medicine held its inaugural meeting on May 15, 2020. This is the first NYAM group dedicated to women's health through their life cycle – from birth to healthy aging.

Under the leadership of Dr. Danielle Laraque-Arena and Dr. Elizabeth Howell, the esteemed founding members of the workgroup developed their mission and vision and identified their core values.

Mission
To advance health and healthcare equity and eliminate structural inequities by engaging key interdisciplinary stakeholders to address health across the life-course, including issues such as maternal and child health disparities, workforce equity, and equal representation in research and education.

Vision
Achieving equity in healthcare by driving change

Values

• Rigorous and innovative science
• Humanism in healthcare
• Equity and justice
• The rights of CIS and transgender women and girls, gender nonconforming and nonbinary people
• Economic freedom
• Community
• Diversity and inclusion

The workgroup meets regularly to discuss and carry out actionable priorities to move the needle towards more equitable health outcomes for women, regardless of race, ethnicity, or economic status.

Founding and Current Workgroup Members

Elizabeth Howell, MD, MPP (Co-Chair)
Harrison McCrea Dickson President’s Distinguished Professor
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania Health System

Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD, FAAP (Co-Chair)
Senior Research Scientist, New York Academy of Medicine
Founder and Co-Chair, NYAM Women’s Health Research & Wellbeing Workgroup
Senior Scientist for the Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention
Professor, Clinical Epidemiology and Pediatrics, Mailman School of Public Health and
Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
President, Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation (2022-    )
Past President, Academic Pediatric Association (2009-2010)
President and Professor Emerita, SUNY Upstate Medical University

Amy M. Balbierz, MPH
Senior Grants Manager
NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Sacha James-Conterelli, DNP, CNM, LM, FACNM, FAA
Assistant Professor in Nursing
Yale School of Nursing

Elizabeth Corwin, PhD, RN, FAAN
Anna C. Maxwell Professor of Nursing Research
Vice-Dean of  Strategic and Innovative Research, Columbia University School of Nursing

Angela Diaz, MD, PhD, MPH
Jean C. and James W. Crystal Professor in Adolescent Health
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Roseanne L. Flores, PhD
Professor of Psychology, Hunter College and CUNY Graduate Center
Faculty Associate of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College

Cassandra Henderson, MD, FACOG, CDCES
Adjunct Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, St. George’s University School of Medicine

Adaobi Ikpeze, MD
SUNY Upstate Medical University

Elaine Larson, PhD, RN, FAAN
Anna C. Maxwell Professor Emerita and Special Lecturer
Columbia University School of Nursing
Scholar- in- Residence, The New York Academy of Medicine

Connie B. Newman, MD
Endocrinologist  and Adjunct Professor of Medicine
New York University School of Medicine and Academic Visitor at the University of Oxford, UK
2018-2019 President, American Medical Women’s Association

Mimi (Paulomi) Niles, PhD, MPH, CNM
Assistant Professor, Faculty Fellow
NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, NYU Collaborator/Birth Place Lab @UBC

Oghale Obaro-Best
MD Candidate
SUNY Upstate Medical University

Toni Stern, MD, MS, MBA
Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science
Senior Associate Dean for Gender Equity in Clinical Affairs
Icahn School of Medicine/Mount Sinai Health System

Allison Squires, PhD, FAAN, RN
Director, Florence S. Downs PhD Program in Nursing Research and Theory Development
NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing
Chair, NYAM Section on Nursing

Wendy Wilcox, MD, MPH, MBA, FACOG
Chief Women’s Health Officer
Office of Medical and Professional Affairs,  New York City Health + Hospitals

Rose Maria van Zuilen, PhD, AGSF
Associate Professor of Professional Practice
Department of Medical Education, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami.

Mark Zezza, PhD
RaLytics
Former Director of Policy and Research
The New York State Health Foundation

2023 New Workgroup Members

Ditsapelo McFarland, PhD, RN, RM
Associate Professor at the College of Nursing and Public Health 
Adelphi University

Lynn Roberts
CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
City University of New York

Past Events

Then & Now: Maternal Health, Maternal Mortality, And The Intersection With Race

During Black Maternal Health Week 2022, NYAM presented an important panel discussion around race, maternal mortality in historical context, and current approaches to improving maternal health and reducing disparities.

WATCH THE RECORDING

DOWNLOAD SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS

VIEW HISTORICAL SOURCES

The Maternal and Child Health Equity Virtual Summit took place on January 12, 2021. This event brought together diverse stakeholders, including representatives from 40 New York City and State hospitals, community-based organizations, and policy makers in local and national governments to address disparities in pre and postnatal care of mothers and infants.

For additional information about the Women's Health Research and Wellbeing Workgroup, please contact fellows@nyam.org