News

The 2023 Alice J. Dan Award Recipients Announced!

Katherine Craemer, MPH presented at the 2023 National Maternal Health Innovation Symposium

Katherine Craemer, MPH, presented our work developing the Maternal Health Emergency Department Toolkit as part of the panel “Emergency Obstetric Care Models/Solutions Panel” on August 2nd, 2023. The presentation discussed organizing over 30 interdisciplinary stakeholders to form the Maternal Health Emergency Department Toolkit, which is currently being piloted in six hospitals across the state of Illinois. Craemer serves as a Senior Research Specialist at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Research on Women and Gender. 

The National Maternal Health Innovation Symposium is hosted by the Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center. The goal of the Symposium is to become a trusted, evidence-driven, and community-centered space for maternal health professionals and others invested in the well-being of families to connect, recharge, and to advance maternal health equity in the communities in which they live and work.

Dr. Pauline Maki was presented the 2023 Health Education Visionary Award
Society for Women’s Health Research presented the Health Education Visionary Award to Dr. Pauline Maki on April 26, 2023. Dr. Maki serves as Senior Director of Research at the University of Illinois Chicago Center for Research on Women and Gender.

Dr. Maki was honored for her significant research contributions that are improving our understanding surrounding key issues in women’s health, particularly around cognition, mood, and brain function during pregnancy and menopause. She leads a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research program on women, cognition, mood, and dementia, with a particular focus on the menopause.

Congratulations!

Women’s Health Research Day was a Success!

On April 17, 2023, the University of Illinois Center for Research of Women and Gender along with Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health program and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology hosted its 5th annual Women’s Health Research Day. The event featured two keynote speakers, Dr Rebecca Thurston, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh and Dr. Kathleen Rospenda, PhD, of the University of Illinois Chicago. Dr. Thurston presented a talk entitled When the Heart Breaks: Trauma, Violence, and Women’s Cardiovascular Health. Dr. Rospenda presented a talk entitled Workplace Harassment and Health.

In addition to the keynote speakers, students and faculty were invited to submit abstracts for a chance to be selected to deliver an oral abstract at the event and to present a poster regarding their research. 29 abstracts were presented and all submissions were invited to present posters at the event symposium.

Congratulations to the Abstract winners: Katherine Craemer & Elizabeth Wenzel and the Poster winners: Nandi Tumbayar and Monica Haughn!

Women’s Health Research Day
April 17, 2023

8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Student Center West Thompson Rooms ABC 2nd Floor, 828 W. Wolcott Ave
Schedule of Events

Networking and Breakfast

Welcome Note by Dr. Irina Buhimschi

Keynote Speaker Introduction by Dr. Pauline Maki

Rebecca Thurston, Ph.D.
Pittsburgh Foundation Chair in Women’s Health and Dementia and Professor of Psychiatry, Clinical and Translational Science, Epidemiology and Psychology
When the Heart Breaks: Trauma, Violence, and Women’s Cardiovascular Health

Break

Poster Presentations

Oral Abstract Winners

Speaker Introduction by Irina Buhimschi

Kathleen Rospenda, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, UIC Department of Psychiatry
Workplace Harassment and Health

Announcement of poster winners

Save the Date and Call for Abstracts
5th Annual UIC Women’s Health Research Day
April 17, 2023 from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Student Center West Thompson Rooms ABC 2nd Floor, 828 W. Wolcott Ave

Registration: Registration is free.
Advance registration required. Register at: https://uic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2g9s7CSQXUMX1ye
Abstract deadline: Monday, April 3, 2023
Submit abstracts and posters at: https://uic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0MnmIHIMVACs3c2

Shaping the future of mental wellness for women
“While we now have highly effective and precise treatment for postpartum depression,
it can be costly and is not universally available across medical centers.” Dr. Pauline Maki
https://uifightdepression.psych.uic.edu/ui-center-on-depression-and-resilience/shaping-the-future-of-mental-wellness-for-women

UIC COM Resiliency Center in the News
WTTW-TV’s Chicago Tonight featured
UIC College of Medicine Student Resiliency Center, Dr. Duffecy, the Center Director,
to discuss struggles of students pressure/stress/exhaustion, & giving students tools to
be effective in managing their mental health.
https://news.wttw.com/2022/11/16/exacerbated-pandemic-uic-program-aims-support-mental-health-medical-students

WE ARE JANE Roe v Wade Discussion
What we need to know about the repeal of Roe v Wade



CRWG ABORTION STATEMENT

The Center for Research on Women and Gender unequivocally denounces the Supreme Court’s decision as intentionally harmful and catastrophic to the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans.
https://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/crwg/crwg-abortion-statement/

Making Depression Treatment More Accessible for Chicago Moms
With CTSA funding, Dr. Maki, Dr. Duffecy, and Dr. Stacie Geller, director of the Center for Research on Women and Gender, tested a method for incorporating Sunnyside for Moms into standard care: women completed an electronic screening for depression and other mental health conditions in the waiting room during routine prenatal clinic visits at the UI Wellness Clinic on Halsted. The trial showed that women found the screening questionnaire easy to complete and it was a low burden on clinic staff to administer.
https://ccts.uic.edu/…/making-depression-treatment…/

Congratulations to 2022 Riddle Prize winner Sonya Gupta
Sonya served as president of UIC Women in Science Engineering-Medicine
Comcast Newsmakers featured the UIC College of Medicine Student Resiliency Center, interviewing Dr. Jenna Duffecy
Dr. Duffecy discusses the struggles of medical students due to pressure, stress and exhaustion, and giving students the tools they need to be effective in managing their mental health.