Women S Faculty Committee Newsletter

WOMEN’S FACULTY COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER March 2010

Visit our websites for news of committee activities, available faculty workshops and archives:

www.umassmed.edu/deoo/index.aspx ; www.umassmed.edu/ofa/index.aspx

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT UMASS

Women’s Faculty Committee Interim Report:

We’d like to take this opportunity to highlight the many accomplishments of the Women’s Faculty Committee, both as individuals and collaboratively. The WFC is supported by the Office of Faculty Affairs and the Diversity and Equal Opportunity Office. During the past year, the committee has:  Interviewed candidates for high level faculty and leadership positions (AVC DEOO, VC FA, etc.);  Arranged and hosted speakers on women’s history and women’s health;  Put out a call for Women’s Faculty Awards and planned the awards luncheon;  Published the newsletter highlighting topics of interest to women faculty and highlighting their accomplishments;  Enhanced research mentoring through the addition of women-authored publications in Escholarship;  Presented a proposal for a Faculty Scholars Award.

The WFC has also collaborated with other groups such as the DEOO, OFA and Women’s Leadership Group on many initiatives including: 1) creation of the new childcare center; 2) presentation of the 2009 AAMC Women in Medicine poster; 3) giving feedback on the gender equity study; 4) participating in the Leadership Institute Planning; 5) contributing to the Institutional Assessment for Advancing Diversity and Equity; 6) participating in the writing of the NSF Advance Grant; 6) giving feedback on the Climate Survey; 7) assisting with planning of Stand Against Racism events on campus; and 8) hosting events contributing to the African American Surgeons Traveling Exhibition.

Future WFC Goals and Initiatives include: 1) planning and initiating activities for junior faculty; 2) clarifying the relationship between the WLG and the WFC; 3) continuing to contribute to the Advance Grant; and 4) continuing our current initiatives (e.g., speakers, newsletter, etc.). The WFC is a “grassroots” committee. The Committee plays a complementary role to other groups on campus with respect to women’s issues. The WFC also brings together women from clinical and basic sciences faculty. As your co-chairs, we continue to look forward to working together to promote women’s faculty issues on campus.

Respectfully submitted, Elaine Martin, DA and Mai-Lan Rogoff, MD Co-Chairs, Women’s Faculty Committee Congratulations!

Heather-Lyn Haley, PhD was promoted to Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health Debra Heitmann, MD was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine Alexis Henry, ScD was promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry Patricia McQuilkin, MD was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics Mary Munson, PhD was promoted to Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Lori Pbert, PhD was promoted to Professor of Medicine Padmaja Surapaneni, MD was promoted to Assistant Professor of Radiology Julie Zhu, PhD was promoted to Research Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine

JeanMarie Houghton, MD, PhD was awarded tenure on December 10, 2009 Marian Walhout, PhD was awarded tenure on February 24, 2010

Luanne Thorndyke, MD was named Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Deborah L. Plummer, PhD was named Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Equal Opportunity

Upcoming Activities of Interest:

Events on campus

Writing about Woman-Centered Maternity Care: How and Why? March 15, 5:30 PM, Refreshments at 5:00 PM. Rare Books Room of the Medical Library, University Campus Sara G. Shields, MD, MS and Lucy M. Candib, MD, editors of Woman-Centered Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth. Dr. Shields, clinical associate professor of family medicine & community health, is a family physician and practices at the Family Health Center of Worcester. Dr. Candib, professor of family medicine & community medicine, is a family physician educator who has taught and practiced family medicine, including obstetrics, at the Family Health Center of Worcester since 1976.

UMass Geriatric Teaching Day April 8, 12:00 - 1:00 PM Grand Rounds in Amphitheater One, University Campus Dr. Catherine Du Beau, Clinical Chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine

Women’s Mental Health Presentation May 18, 12:00 - 1:00 PM (doors open at 11:30 AM for lunch) Amphitheater One, University Campus Dr. Hadine Joffe will speak on psychiatric aspects of menopause RSVP to Nellie Toney ([email protected])

Annual Women's Awards Luncheon May 25, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Faculty Conference Room (S1-342), University Campus Awards will be presented in the following categories: • Sarah Stone Excellence in Education Award • Outstanding Community Service Award • Women in Science and Health Achievement Award • Excellence in Clinical Services Award • Outstanding Mentoring Award

Girls Celebration Event May 13, 5:00 - 7:00 PM Blais Pavilion, Aaron Lazare Research Building $25 per person The 2010 Celebration will honor two Advocate for Girls Awardees, Kay Bassett and Dr. Mariann Manno, as well as the recipients of the Valerie S. Loring Girl of the Year and the Ann J. Prouty Community Leader for their commitment to Girls Inc. and its mission. Proceeds benefit the 2010 Summer Programs Scholarship Fund For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 508-755-6455.

Events in Worcester

Dear Abby / a new dramatic presentation March 28, 2:30 - 3:30 PM Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room, 3 Salem Square, Worcester, MA A new dramatic presentation of the letters and conversations between Abby Kelley Foster, Stephen Foster and their daughter, Alla, written by Carolyn Howe and Lynne McKenney Lydick. Performed by Lynne McKenney Lydick, Tom Lydick and Madeline McKenney-Lydick. Sponsored by: Worcester Women's History Project For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 508-767-1852.

Assumption College Women’s Studies Events – film showing: Hukkle April 8, 4:30 PM Alden Trust Auditorium (Kennedy Memorial Hall, Room 112 - # 16 on the campus map at http://www1.assumption.edu/about/visit/maps/ACmap.html) Using almost no dialogue, the film follows a number of residents (both human and animal) of a small rural community in Hungary - an old man with hiccups, a shepherdess and her sheep, an old woman who may or may not be up to no good, some folk-singers at a wedding, etc. While most of the film is a series of vignettes, there is a sinister and often barely perceptible subplot involving murder.

National Events

Early Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar July 10-13 The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. AAMC's Professional Development Seminar for Early Career Women Faculty is a three-day professional development seminar designed for assistant professors (associate professors are not eligible) focusing on academic medicine career building and skills in CV development and basic management skills. Attendees are encouraged to develop their professional network through the career mapping sessions. The seminar is targeted at women in medicine and science. CME credit is offered. The online application deadline has been extended to Thursday, March 18, 2010. Mid-Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar December 11-14 Westin Kierland Resort & Spa - Scottsdale, Ariz. AAMC's Professional Development Seminar for Mid-Career Women Faculty is designed for women associate or full professors with clear potential for advancement to departmental and institutional leadership. CME credit is offered.

Online Events

E-Learning Seminar: "What You Don't Know: The Science of Unconscious Bias and What To Do About it in the Search and Recruitment Process" A research presentation for search committees in academic medicine sponsored by the AAMC. http://www.aamc.org/opi/leadership/training.htm

Child care update from HR: The UMass Memorial Child Care Program operated by Bright Horizons opens a new center this summer. The University Campus center in the Shaw Building, 419 Belmont Street, will have space for 90 children including infant, toddler and preschool rooms. Charlotte Sudyka, the Director of the Center, will be hosting several “Lunch & Learn” drop in sessions during the month of March. A flyer with the schedule of sessions can be found at http://www.umassmed.edu/hr/worklife/childcare.aspx. The Pre-Enrollment Interest Form is at http://www.umassmed.edu/hr/worklife/index.aspx. If there are more applications than there are slots available, a lottery will be conducted on May 3rd, from all pre-enrollment forms submitted by April 15th. Those interested in finding out more about space availability should contact Alison Smith, business manager, at 508-854-0814, or via e-mail ([email protected]).

WE CAN ALWAYS USE YOUR HELP!!!!!!!

Women’s Faculty Committee Workgroups: The Women’s Faculty Committee has several workgroups that need volunteers. The amount of time needed varies but is generally not extensive. Rather, the “work” is episodic, fun and shared with colleagues. Opportunities include:

Interviewing for the Council of Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Candidates for senior administrative positions (Chairs, Deans, Vice Chancellors, etc.) are interviewed by a combined committee of the Women's Faculty Committee and the Council on Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Contact Marlene Tucker in the Diversity and Equal Opportunity Office ext.6-6396 or email her at [email protected]. WHAT’S HAPPENING ELSEWHERE

Workplace violence common but under-reported for nurses: Three out of four nurses in an Australian study said they had experienced some form of workplace violence, including verbal or physical abuse or being physically threatened. Nurses made a formal report in only one out of 6 incidents, however. Violent incidents were most common in the emergency department, but nurses there were less likely than those working in other departments to report incidents. Almost one-third of respondents did not report incidents because they thought it was part of the job. Half of respondents noted that senior managers did not respond to an incident that was reported. [Extracted from: Wiley – Blackwell (2010, February 3). Violence is part of the job, say nurses, as study shows only 1 in 6 incidents are reported. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100203084343.htm]

Higher Medicare co-payments don’t reduce costs of care: A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Medicare plans with increases in co-payments saw smaller increases in outpatient visits than plans with no change in co-payments, but larger increases in hospital care, including more hospital admissions and more inpatient days. The authors note that not only are increased co- payments linked to higher spending, but also to worse health, as reductions in doctor visits lead to more hospital care. [Extracted from: Roni Caryn Rabin, Aging: higher co-payments tied to costlier care, New York Times, February 2, 2010]

Would you like a side of E. coli with that? When microbiologists in Virginia tested soda fountain machines at 30 fast food restaurants, they found that almost half harbored coliform bacteria, which is often linked to feces. Moreover, most of the bacteria were antibiotic-resistant. The machines could cause gastric problems, particularly in consumers with compromised immune systems. [Extracted from: Titania Kumeh, Fast food soda, now with feces, Mother Jones, January 7, 2010, http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/01/fast- food-feces]

Love that dirty water…: A report by the New York Times shows that in the previous 5 years, more than one in five US water treatment systems have failed key parts of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Almost 50 million consumers have been exposed to water with illegally high amounts of contaminants such as arsenic, uranium, and sewage-related bacteria. Up to 19 million people may get sick each year due to the biological contaminants, and rises in breast and prostate cancer have been tied to pollutants found in the water. Fines or punishments were rare, however, occurring in under 6% of water systems with violations. Most problems have occurred in small systems serving fewer than 20,000 people, with few resources. [Extracted from: Charles Duhigg, Millions in U.S. drink dirty water, records show, New York Times, December 8, 2009]

School-lunch meat standards lower than those for fast food: Many fast-food restaurants impose higher quality and safety standards for their meet than does the U.S. Department of Agriculture for school lunches. For example, ground beef is tested for bacteria and pathogens, such as E. coli and total coliform, 5-10 times more frequently, and limits for bacteria in hamburgers are up to 10 times lower. The USDA also purchases “spent hens,” old chickens that would otherwise be destined for pet food or compost and would not be accepted by fast-food chains. Food safety experts note that tightening USDA standards would be relatively easy and inexpensive, e.g., by not awarding contrasts to the lowest qualified bidders. Jack in the Box’s safety requirements have increased costs by less than one cent per pound of beef. [Extracted from: Peter Eisler, Blake Morrison, and Anthony DeBarros, Fast-food standards for meat top those for school lunches, December 22, 2009, USAToday] To prolong your life, turn off the TV: An Australian observational study found that adults who watched television for at least 4 hours a day were almost 50% more likely to die, and 80% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, than adults watching no more than2 hours a day. With each additional hour per day, deaths overall increased by 11% and deaths from cardiovascular disease increased by 18%. The impact of television viewing may be linked to lack of physical activity, which causes problems with blood glucose and fats. An experiment that randomly reduced the amount of people’s television viewing found that those in the reduced-viewing group had higher physical activity levels, burning an extra 120 calories per day on average – the equivalent of walking 8 miles per week – while the control group burned 100 fewer calories per day. There was no difference between the groups in calories consumed or sleeping, however. [Extracted from: Roni Caryn Rabin, Behavior: Too much sitting shortens lives, study suggests. January 26, 2010, New York Times; Tara Parker- Pope, How less TV changes your day, December 16, 2009, New York Times]

Higher fats in the diet tied to lower immune function: A doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg studying mice compared a lard-based high-fat diet (60% calories from fat) and a low- fat diet (<10% calories from fat). After the mice were injected with bacteria, those on the high-fat diet not only gained weight, but had a less active immune system and were more likely to die of sepsis. Obesity has been found to be linked to inflammation from an unnecessary activation of the immune system; in contrast, the high- fat mice in this study had a lower immune function response to the bacteria. [Extracted from: University of Gothenburg (2009, December 10). Fatty food can weaken the immune system. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 11, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091208132526.htm]

Trends in smoking: Rates of smoking in the US have declined from 25% ten years ago to 20% five years ago, although there was little change since 2004. This rate also is higher than the goal of 12% in Healthy People 2010. Moreover, despite receiving high revenues from tobacco companies from tobacco taxes and the 1998 tobacco settlement, states are spending less of that money – only 2.3% -- on smoking prevention. The states’ spending on smoking prevention is 20 times less than the amount spent by tobacco companies on marketing. [Extracted from: Roni Caryn Rabin, Patterns: smoking in U.S. declines but not by much, November 24, 2009, New York Times; Duff Wilson, States spending less to fight smoking, December 10, 2009, New York Times]

Brain tumors steady while cell phone use increased: Incidence rates for brain tumors in Scandinavia between 1974 and 2003 – a time of rapid increases in cell phone use – stayed relatively stable or continued trends that began before cell phones. The study’s authors posit three possible explanations: that the study period was not sufficiently long to observe an increase; that any increase in risk was too small to be seen; or that cell phone use does not increase the risk of brain tumors. [Extracted from: Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2009, December 4). No change in brain tumor incidence during a time when cell phone usage increased. Retrieved December 4, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/09120316140.htm]

Soy, calcium, and Vitamin D for colon cancer prevention: Compounds in soy, sphingadienes, have been found to increase apoptosis (programmed cell death) in animal studies, and studies in mice have shown that these compounds are effective in preventing colon cancer. A randomized clinical trial in adults with benign colon tumors compared the combination of calcium and Vitamin D with placebo, and found that cells in the colon and rectum were healthier in the calcium-Vitamin D group. [Extracted from: Stephen Daniells, Soy compounds may offer colon cancer protection, http://www.nutraingredients.com/content/view/print/269231; Stephen Daniells, Calcium and vit D show promise for colorectal health, http://www.nutraingredients.com/content/view/print/269373]

When you eat matters: Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have found that liver function related to metabolism is controlled primarily by food intake – feeding and fasting periods – rather than by the body’s circadian rhythms. In other words, the timing of when one eats has a large effect on metabolism. In particular, workers who change shifts are at higher risk for problems with metabolism. And a study of eating behavior noted that the timing, amounts, and quality of food consumed differs between weekdays and weekends or holidays, with more calories and less healthy foods eaten during the latter. [Extracted from: Salk Institute (2009, November 26). When you eat may be just as vital to your health as what you eat. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091125094321.htm; University of Pittsburgh (2009, December 10). Are holiday and weekend eating patterns affecting obesity rates? ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 11, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091209163716.htm]

The health consequences of poverty: A comparison of the health-related impact of various factors noted that poverty had the greatest effect, higher than smoking or obesity. On average, low income was linked to 8.2 fewer years of perfect health, compared with 6.6 years for smoking, 5.1 years for being a high school dropout, and 4.2 years for obesity. Being uninsured, a binge drinker, or non-Hispanic black also were associated with fewer years of perfect health. Had the researchers been able to include those in prisons and chronic care facilities, the estimated impact of low education might have been even higher. [Extracted from: Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health (2009, December 23). Poor face greater health burden than smokers or the obese. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 23, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222141628.htm]

WOMEN’S HEALTH

New recommendations on mammography: The United States Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended that regular mammograms for breast cancer screening begin for most women at age 50 rather than at age 40, and that mammograms occur every two years between ages 50-74 instead of annually. The goal was to balance benefits as well as risks from mammograms; the latter includes unnecessary biopsies and detecting and treating slow-growing cancers that would not cause problems. The task force concluded that harms outweigh benefits for most – but not all – women under 50 due in part to their lower risk of breast cancer, as well as denser tissue which reduces ability to detect tumors. The new guidelines are not recommended for women at high risk of breast cancer. The recommendations were based in part on results from multiple studies involving approximately 730,000 women. The revised recommendations were questioned by groups such as the American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology, while other groups such as the National Breast Cancer Coalition welcomed them. [Extracted from: Gina Kolata, In reversal, U.S. urges mammograms at 50, not 40, November 17, 2009, New York Times; Denise Grady, Quandary with mammograms: get a screening, or just skip it? November 3, 2009, New York Times; Rob Stein, Breast exam guidelines now call for less testing, change debated, November 17, 2009, The Washington Post]

And new recommendations for Pap tests: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now is recommending that Pap testing begin at age 21, rather than within 3 years of beginning sexual intercourse or age 21, whichever was earlier. Many young women develop cervical abnormalities that appear precancerous but disappear without treatment. Removal may cause injury to the cervix, which causes subsequent problems such as premature birth and Caesarean sections. In addition, the group recommended less frequent testing than in the past, because cervical cancer grows slowly; women aged 30 and older with 3 consecutive normal Pap tests and no history of seriously abnormal findings can have the test every 3 years, instead of annually. [Extracted from: Denise Grady, Guidelines push back age for cervical cancer tests, November 20, 2009, New York Times]

Symptoms not useful for detecting ovarian cancer early: A study at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found that symptoms mentioned in a recent consensus statement, such as frequent urination and abdominal pain or bloating, are not helpful in detecting ovarian cancer, especially early- stage cancer. The study compared symptom reporting in 812 ovarian cancer patients with 1313 control participants from the general population. In cancer patients, symptoms were more frequent in late stage than in early stage, and did not tend to appear until 5 months or less before diagnosis. The positive predictive value was very low, at only 0.6-1.1% overall, and below 0.5% for early stage. An editorial accompanying the publication of the study mentions the need for improving imaging modalities and identifying better molecular markers. [Extracted from: Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2010, February 4). Symptoms have little value for early detection of ovarian cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100128165840.htm]

Military women to have access to Plan B: The U.S. Department of Defense will begin stocking the morning-after pill Plan B at its health facilities, including those in other countries, based on a recommendation by the Pentagon’s Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. The committee made the same recommendation back in 2002, but its recommendation was not adopted at that time. [Extracted from: Rob Stein, Pentagon to stock health facilities with morning-after pill, February 5, 2010, The Washington Post]

Global abortion rate drops: The number of abortions globally declined recently, from 45.5 million in 1995 to 41.6 million in 2003, according to a report by the Guttmacher Institute. The number of unsafe abortions has not decreased, however, with almost 20 million occurring primarily in poorer nations, and 70,000 associated fatalities. [Reuters, Britain: study finds drop in global abortion rates, October 14, 2009, New York Times]

But teen pregnancies on the rise in the U.S.: The decade-long decline in rates of teenage pregnancy was reversed recently, with a 3% increase in 2006 compared with 2005, and an additional rise in 2007. Between 1990 and 2005, teenage pregnancies declined from 116.9 per 1000 teens to 69.5 per 1000 teens, rising slightly to 71.5 per 1000 teens in 2006. Some attribute the increase to abstinence-only sex education, while others caution against identifying a single cause. [Extracted from: Tamar Lewin, After long decline, teenage pregnancy rate rises, January 27, 2010, New York Times]

Increased heart disease risk with higher testosterone: A study by University of Pennsylvania researchers of 344 postmenopausal women, aged 65-98, found an increased risk of coronary heart disease with higher testosterone. Women in the top 25% for testosterone had a 3-fold risk of heart disease compared with other women, related to greater insulin resistance in the former group. The study’s authors note that the study was observational, and thus more research is needed to assess whether the association between testosterone and insulin resistance is causal. [Extracted from: The Endocrine Society (2009, November 5). Postmenopausal women with higher testosterone may have greater heart disease risk. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 6, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/2009/11/091104085228.htm]

Increase in osteoporotic-related fractures: The rate of hospitalization for osteoporosis- related fractures rose by 55% over the period 1995-2006, with a cost of $2.4 billion. Almost 9 out of every 10 hospitalizations were women. One in four hospitalizations for fracture also had an associated injury. The Midwest had the highest rate of hospitalizations at 107 per 100,000 population, compared with the Western region at only 68 per 100,000 population. [Extracted from: Osteoporosis-linked fractures rise dramatically, Journal of Women’s Health, Vol 18, Number 10, 2009, pp. 1481-2.] Diabetes increases osteoporosis risk, but flaxseed oil may be protective: Researchers in Egypt studied the effects of flaxseed oil in different groups of female rats, including those with ovaries removed and those with diabetes. Osteocalcin, a marker of bone formation, was lower in these two groups compared with other rats, particularly in the diabetic rats, while a marker of bone resorption was higher in the diabetic rats; these results indicate that diabetes has a greater effect on bone health than ovary removal and menopause-associated declines in estrogen. The administration of flaxseed oil, however, reduced the levels of the bone resorption marker in diabetic rats. The authors hypothesize that this effect is due to n-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial to matrix formation and bone mineralization. [Extracted from: Jane Byrne, Flaxseed oil cuts osteoporosis risk in diabetic, older women – study, November 24, 2009, http://www.nutraingredients.com/content/view/print/268456]

Having a partner is linked to higher weight in women: An Australian study of more than 6000 women has found that even among childless women, women with a partner gained more weight over 10 years than women with no partner. On average, weight gain was 15 pounds for those with a partner and no babies, compared with 20 pounds for those with both a partner and a baby, and 11 pounds for women with neither. These differences account for factors such as physical activity and smoking. The authors note that the greater weight gain was likely due to differences in behavior, e.g., eating out, rather than to metabolic differences due to having a partner. In contrast, metabolic changes linked to pregnancy may account for higher weight gain in women with children. [Extracted from: Nicholas Bakalar, Study says women with mate get heavier, January 5, 2010, New York Times]

Fiber related to reproductive function: Analyses of fiber consumption, reproductive hormones across a menstrual cycle, and anovulation indicate that high dietary fiber is related to lower levels of hormones – including estradiol (the primary estrogen prior to menopause), progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone. In addition, a 5-gram/day increase in overall fiber consumption was related to a 1.8-fold increase in the rate of anovulation, while the corresponding increase for 5 grams of fiber from fruit was 3.05. These results are consistent with findings of lower breast cancer risk in women with high-fiber diets, linked to lower estrogen. [Extracted from: Gaskins et al., Effect of daily fiber intake on reproductive function: The BioCycle Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90:1061-9.]

WOMEN AND MEN:

Impact of location of body fat varies by gender: A 10-year Danish study of almost 60,000 men and women found that the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) increases with higher fat around the waist in men, but with higher fat around the hips in women. This association remained after adjustment for other risk factors, including smoking, exercise, presence of diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and cholesterol. These results are in contrast to earlier studies indicating that risk was lower with larger hip circumference. The authors suggest that physicians should take account of distribution of body fat in addition to obesity as indicated by body mass index (BMI). [Extracted from: American heart Association (2009, October 28). Location of body fat affects risk of blood clots in men, women. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/1026162535.htm]

Imbalance in spouses’ wealth tips towards wives…: In an analysis of census data, the Pew Research Center has found that men are more likely to marry women with higher incomes and education, while the opposite is occurring for women. In 1970, the husband’s education was higher in 28% of couples and lower in 20%. In 2007, the corresponding percentages were 19% and 28%. Similarly, 4% of wives had the higher income in 1970, compared with 22% in 2007. The current recession has increased the gap in income, with men accounting for about three-quarters of the lost jobs. [Extracted from: Sam Roberts, More men marrying wealthier women, NYT, January 19, 2010] But the trend towards higher college rates in women stops: Women made up the majority of students in college after 1978, accounting for 55% of students in 1990 and 57% in 2003. This gap has remained constant since. The gender difference is due in large part to a greater proportion of women who enter or return to college after their mid-20’s. Looking at individual race/ethnicities, among Hispanics, the percentage of undergraduates who are male did not increase but declined from 45% in 1999-2000 to 42% in 2007-2008. The gender gap is largest for African Americans, but has narrowed over time. Overall, males continue to earn more PhD and MD degrees than women. [Extracted from: Eric Gorski, College “gender gap” favoring women stops growing, The Washington Post, January 26, 2010]

Female scientists still do more housework: A study by researchers at Stanford University found that female scientists carried out about twice as much housework than their male counterparts, at just over half. The remainder was done by children and paid help. Hours of housework by women also did not vary by faculty rank. Despite the greater amount of housework, women spent almost as many hours at work as men. The study’s authors suggest that even small differences in the number of hours available for research may reduce competitiveness, and that universities may want to offer benefits packages that allow for hiring of paid household labor. [Extracted from: Jill Laster, Time crunch for female scientists: they do more housework than men, The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 19, 2010]

Sharing housework promotes marital happiness: Couples who fall into a “shared roles” group, where each partner carries out between 40-60% of the total housework, have higher happiness and life satisfaction than other couples. This category accounts for about one in four couples, and is more common for women with more resources and for less religious couples. The “complementary-traditional family” group, where men do more paid work and women more unpaid work, still is the largest group. The study by researchers at the University of Western Ontario included survey data from Canadians in 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2005. [Extracted from: University of Western Ontario (2009, December 16). Couples who do the dishes together stay happier. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 17, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091215102103.htm]

Child-rearing as an antihypertensive, particularly for mothers? A Brigham Young University study of almost 200 adults using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring notes that participants with children had lower average blood pressure – 4.5 mm/Hg for systolic and 3 mm/Hg for diastolic – than those without children. This difference was higher in women, at 12 mm/Hg for systolic and 7 mm/Hg for diastolic. These results adjusted for other factors, including age, weight, physical activity, and smoking. The study’s main author noted that these findings do not suggest greater reductions with more children, but rather an association with parenthood. [Extracted from: Brigham Young University (2010, January 14). Raising kids may lower blood pressure. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 15, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100114091206.htm]

International study finds few gender differences in math ability: Researchers from Villanova University analyzed data from two studies involving almost 500,000 students aged 14-16 in 69 countries, including both basic math knowledge and ability to apply math skills. Overall, average gender differences in math skills were small, but the gender gap was smaller in countries with greater gender equity. Moreover, despite similar skills, boys tended to have more confidence in their abilities and were more motivated to perform well. [Extracted from: American Psychological Association (2010, January 6). Few gender differences in math abilities, worldwide study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 7, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100105112303.htm]

Impact of teachers’ math fear on girls’ performance: In a study of first- and second- graders and their teachers, researchers at the University of Chicago found that girls studying under female teachers with math anxiety were more likely to believe the stereotype that girls do worse at math, and then to perform worse. There was no impact of teacher’s math anxiety on boy students, however. [Extracted from: University of Chicago (2010, January 26). Believing stereotype undermines girls’ math performance: elementary school women teachers transfer their fear of doing math to girls, study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100125179240.htm]

Geekiness turns women away from computer science: An experiment that manipulated a classroom environment found that women exposed to a setup conforming to computer science stereotypes, e.g., Star Trek posters, had less interest in computer science than women in a classroom with a non- stereotypical setup, e.g., nature posters. Men’s interest in computer science did not differ between the two environments, however. The study’s author suggested that to increase the number of women in computer science, it would be helpful to change the discipline’s image rather than trying to change women who dislike the stereotype. [Extracted from: University of Washington (2009, December 28). Of girls and geeks: environment may be why women don’t like computer science. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 29, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/091214143728.htm]

Among veterans, women less likely to report pain: A comparison of men and women military personnel discharged recently from the Iraqi conflicts found that women were somewhat less likely than men to report any pain – 38.1% versus 44%. Among those reporting pain, women were less likely to report persistent pain – 18% versus 21% -- but more likely to reported more moderate or severe pain – 68% versus 63%. These results differ from those in civilians, where women typically report more pain-related symptoms such as migraines or abdominal pain. Possible explanations for the lower pain reporting in women veterans may be differences in injury exposures, or greater difficulty in receiving VA treatment in women. [Extracted from: Wiley-Blackwell (2009, October 22). Women veterans less likely to report pain than male counterparts. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 23, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091021115004.htm]

Lower rates of major research funding in women: A study of almost 3000 recipients of early career awards from the National Institutes of Health found that fewer than one in four had received R01 funding – an award for a large project – within 5 years of the career award. The rate was 25% for men, compared with 19% for women. The gap widened at 10 years, with 46% of men having received R01 funding versus only 36% of women. The authors hypothesize that women’s research careers may be adversely affected by family responsibilities, clinical workload, less success at negotiating time for research, or choice of non- research careers. Given the low rates of major research funding for both genders, they also suggest increasing support for young researchers. [Extracted from: University of Michigan Health System (2009, December 12). Women researchers less likely to receive major career funding grants, study shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 14, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091130192913.htm] Wives with serious illness more likely to get divorced than husbands: Among 515 patients with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or a brain tumor, 12% separated or divorced subsequently, a rate similar to that in the general population. Patients who had been married longer were less likely to separate or divorce. Women were seven times more likely than men to end a marriage, however (21% versus 3%). The results suggest that among previously happily married couples, men may be more likely to turn away from seriously ill wives, or that wives of men patients in previously unhappy marriages are less likely to leave them. The authors propose that hospitals consider adding social workers or therapists to care teams. [Extracted from: Tara Parker-Pope, Divorce risk higher when wife gets sick, New York Times, November 12, 2009] Women’s Faculty Committee Newsletter: Special thanks to Pat Franklin, Heather-Lyn Haley, Elaine Martin, Ellen More, and Randi Segatore for materials for this newsletter. For future issues, please send comments and news to the editors:

[email protected]