4/22/2022. Study by BIRCWH Women’s Health Associate Dr. Natasha Crooks profiled by the UIC College of Nursing
The College of Nursing has featured the work of BIRCWH Women’s Health Associate and UIC College of Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Natasha Crooks, focusing on the “the physical, psychological and sexual development of Black adolescent girls”. This work was based on a recent paper published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology by Dr. Crooks, titled “The Impact of COVID-19 Among Black Girls: A Social-Ecological Perspective,” which summarized findings of a qualitative study that featured interviews with 25 Black girls—aged 9 to 18—from December 2020 to April 2021. This research was profiled in on the UIC College of Nursing website, and can be found here: https://nursing.uic.edu/news-stories/black-girls-covid/.
1/27/2022. UIC Today “New study helps understand role of gut microbiome in gestational diabetes”
BIRCWH co-PI Dr. Pauline Maki and Scholar Dr. Beatriz Peñalver Bernabé are co-authors on a study that identified changes to the gut microbiome during pregnancy that affect metabolism and lead to gestational diabetes. This research was profiled in UIC Today, and can be found here: https://today.uic.edu/new-study-helps-understand-role-of-gut-microbiome-in-gestational-diabetes.
1/24/2022. UIC Today “UI Health doctors to study new diagnostic test for preeclampsia in Africa”
BIRCWH co-PI Dr. Irina Buhimschi is a co-principal investigator of a study (with Dr. Gelila Goba) that received funding to test a novel diagnostic kit for preeclampsia in Ethiopia and Uganda. This research was profiled in UIC Today, and can be found here: https://today.uic.edu/ui-health-doctors-to-study-new-diagnostic-test-for-preeclampsia-in-africa.
1/24/2022. Chicago Tribune “Op-ed: As the pandemic has shown, more needs to be done to factor sex, gender into biological research”
BIRCWH Scholar Dr. Pavitra Kotini-Shah has co-authored an op-ed on the importance of involving sex as a biological variable (SABV) which was published in the Chicago Tribune. You can find the article here: https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-sabv-gender-sex-medical-research-20220124-4baasgbqf5cqxnz54gtpci7vra-story.html
12/17/2021. BIRCWH Mentor is selected as a 2021-2022 Teaching Recognition Program (TRP) Awardee
BIRCWH Mentor, Julienne N. Rutherford, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Human Development Nursing Science, has been selected as a 2021-2022 Teaching Recognition Program (TRP) Awardee. The TRP recognizes awardees as providing an “excellent example of the high quality of instruction that characterizes the best of UIC”. You can find more details here: https://faculty.uic.edu/awards/trp/.
12/13/2021. Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Annual Meeting
This event will include the 5th Ruth L. Kirschstein Memorial Lectureship, titled “Bias Is a Habit We Must All Work Hard to Break” and presented by Molly L. Carnes, MD, MS; the Legacy of Leadership Lecture, presented by Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA; presentations on research findings by leading BIRCWH Scholars; and a live Q&A session. The videocast recording can be found here: https://orwh.od.nih.gov/about/newsroom/events/bircwh-2021
BIRCWH Meeting abstracts from our Scholars (#36, #37) can be found here: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jwh.2021.29039.abstracts
5/20/2021. The Faculty Academic Advancement Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (FAAC-DEI) Presents: “Practical Advice for Preparing your CV for Promotion & Tenure”
The Faculty Academic Advancement Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (FAAC-DEI) Presents: “Practical Advice for Preparing your CV for Promotion & Tenure”
Thursday, May 20, 2021, 12-2:30 PM
Purpose: This workshop is designed for Assistant Professors and Associate Professors planning to go up for promotion, including tenure track faculty coming up for mid-probationary reviews. A virtual presentation on creating a strong CV will be followed by group discussions and Q&A.
The workshops will be presented by Dr. Pauline Maki (BIRCWH Co-PI) and Dr. Memoona Hasnain (BIRCWH Advisory Board Member). For more information and to register, visit https://emails.uofi.uic.edu/newsletter/1736101427.html. Please register by May 17th.
3/17/2021. Celebrating Women’s History Month with Pauline Maki, PhD: Conversations with the CAO Series
“When I think of the amazing faculty of the UI College of Medicine, I am humbled by the sincere and thoughtful humanity that goes into their research and the way they deliver care to patients throughout our community. On March 3, 2021, I had the pleasure of visiting with Dr. Pauline Maki, who serves as the Senior Director of Research for the Center for Research on Women and Gender, as well as our Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs. In a month when we are celebrating National Women’s History Month, I was fortunate to learn of the remarkable work Dr. Maki has led towards the advancement of women’s brain health, along with more than 170 publications on various areas that will improve the health outcomes for women across all communities. We took a robust dive into her work, but I was most awestruck by her passion and commitment to serve others. I hope you will enjoy this conversation as much as I did and come away from this discussion better informed – and inspired – to get involved with the great work Dr. Maki – and many like her – are doing to advance innovation in health care at the UI College of Medicine. We truly can save lives, change lives, and improve lives through the collective effort of caring for our entire community.” – Chief Advancement Officer Joshua A. Butler, UI College of Medicine
2/24/2021. Congratulations to BIRCWH Associate Dr. Natasha Crooks
We would like to recognize the work of BIRCWH Associate Dr. Natasha Crooks, who recently published a paper with Dr. Phoenix Matthews and Dr. Geri Donenberg in the Journal of Medical Ethics highlighting the historical issues that impact research involving Black populations. The authors also provide recommendations of the ethical engagement of Black populations in research.
This story is profiled in UIC Today.
Also, Dr. Crooks recently received the Janet A. Deatrick Award which provides research support for an assistant professor in the College of Nursing.
Congratulations Natasha!!
2/1/2021. Study looks at menopause, cognitive function in women of color, including women with HIV
BIRCWH co-PI Dr. Pauline Maki has been profiled in UIC Today for leading a study recently published in the journal Menopause. For the study, she assessed whether low-income women of color and/or women with cognitive vulnerabilities, including those with HIV, experienced higher-than-expected cognitive difficulties during menopause.
12/15/2020. ORWH 30th Anniversary Scientific Symposium – Morning Keynote Address by Dr. Pauline Maki.
BIRCWH co-PI Dr. Pauline Maki offered the morning keynote address on women’s mental health across the life course. In this address, Dr. Maki noted the importance of hormonal contributions to specific mental health disorders at various developmental stages but stressed that biological, health, and psychosocial factors all play important roles in risk and resilience.