National Center of Excellence in Women's Health: Region VII Demonstration Project
"The goal of the program is to improve the health status
of all women across the life span."
What:
The National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health (CoE's) were established in 1996 by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. The Centers are located in academic medical centers where they work across schools, departments, and community to address women's health. The CoE programs establish and evaluate a new model health care system that unites:
- State-of-the-art health care services addressing all of a women's needs
- Gender-based research
- Public and professional education and training
- Community outreach linking diverse women to health services and programs
- Leadership positions for women in academic medicine
When:
The University of Utah Health Sciences Center in Salt Lake City became a Region VII National Center of Excellence in Women's Health (CoE) Demonstration Project in September 2005.
The CoE enjoys fruitful collaborations with all the schools and colleges in the health sciences (School of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eccles Library) as well as partnerships with the Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake Valley Health Department, Association for Utah Community Health and Utah Navajo Health System, Inc.
Who:
Director: Kathlee Digre,MD;MPH;Assistant Professor; Dept. of OB/GYN
Deputy Director: Yvette LaCoursiere, MD;MPH;Assistant Professor;Dept. of OB/GYN
How:
Some of the achievements in the first 18 months:
Clinic: Establishment of CoE clinic at Madsen Health Center - Resource Center, information prescription, patient history and tracking forms, monthly "Ask the Expert" seminar on women's health topics, Women's Health Fair in May 2007
Research: Publication of Special Supplement: Women's Health in Utah-June 2007; A List-serve of all researchers interested in Gender-specific research
Professional Education: Development of graduate certificate course in Women's Health, pilot project of Women's Health Portfolio for medical students
Community Outreach: Sponsorship by Angel Flight for monthly visits by physicians to attend clinics in the Four Corners region and provide services to the Native American population
- Developing the resource center at the new South Main Clinic, in collaboration with the Salt Lake County Library
- A web-based resource center of ALL women's services in the State of Utah by county
- Leadership/Professional Development: Mentoring Workshop, Climate Survey, Leadership Tool Box
Website: www.uuhsc.utah.edu/coe/womenshealth