EPORT VOL. 7 SUMMER 2019 H EALTH, INDIVIDUALLY INSPIRED. MISSION The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Texas and across the nation by advancing multidisciplinary science in women’s health. Recognizing that differences matter, we promote health, individually inspired, through scientific investigation, translation of science into practice and providing outreach that impacts the community today and tomorrow. VISIONVISION ToTo maintain maintain a a national national position position as as leaders leaders in in women’s women’s health health andand gender-based gender-based medicine medicine throughout throughout Texas Texas and and the the nation, nation, whilewhile remaining remaining committed committed to to enriching enriching the the lives lives of of women women and and girlsgirls in in our our communities. communities. (Cover Photo: Elizabeth Webb, Teresa Baker, M.D., Hadine Joffe, M.D., and Lisa Troutt) impact report | summer 2019 DEAR FRIEND, This year, the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health celebrates its 10th anniversary. The years have flown by, and I am proud of the progress the institute has made to improve the lives of women and children in Texas. To-date the institute has: • Provided over $2.5 million in grants for women’s health and sex and gender research • Developed a website, SexAndGenderHealth.org, that contains learning modules, a slide library, a video library, and robust resources for medical professionals • Educated more than 25,000 women and girls about issues unique to women’s health and safety • Been awarded $7.5 million through Cancer Prevention Institute of Texas (CPRIT) grants that have screened more than 8,000 women, detected 132 breast cancers, and supplied 6,500 HPV vaccines to young people The institute depends on the passion and commitment of a dedicated group of board members, donors, staff, and volunteers. You will read about some of these special people in this issue of IMPACT. Thank you for your support for and interest in the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health. WARMLY, Laura Bush 1 NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Members 2 impact report | summer 2019 COMMUNITY Members ADVISORY BOARD Members 3 SPECIFIC health All health professionals, doctors, nurses and certificate is equivalent to ten hours of continuing pharmacists strive to provide the best possible care education and qualifies the holder to join the Sex for their patients. In order to achieve this, the Laura and Gender Health Collaborative Practitioner W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health is working Register found on the American Medical Women’s to educate current and future health providers to Association website. consider each patient’s uniqueness. First, that means “Sex and Gender in Acute Care Medicine” is an taking into consideration how their sex and gender important new textbook by Alyson McGregor, impacts their medical needs. M.D., director of the Division of Sex and Gender in Through interactive online modules, students and Emergency Medicine at Alpert School of Medicine clinicians are able to review the latest research on at Brown University. This resource is posted under sex and gender differences, update their skill sets the Slide Library tab at www.sexandgenderhealth. and go in-depth with subjects such as cardiovascular org. The book is written for emergency medical disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, infectious disease professionals and each chapter covers a specific and alcohol use disorder. problem they encounter. McGregor provides a pre-test and post-test with each chapter and These modules are now part of the required highlights the sex and gender differences that could curriculum for some of our Texas Tech University be overlooked by emergency personnel. Medical Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) students. professionals consider this critical information in When all five subjects are completed, the student the pursuit of personalized medicine. receives a Sex and Gender Health Certificate. The Slide Library Video Library Learning Modules Cases Partners Resources Communication LWB Institute 1 OSTEOPOROSIS 2 3 4 DIABETES CARDIOVASCULAR ALCOHOL USE DISORDER 5 INFECTIOUS DISEASE 4 impact report | summer 2019 CPRIT MAMMOGRAMupdate PROGRAM FOR WEST TEXAS In 2018, we were pleased to announce a new program funded by the San Angelo Health Foundation that provides free breast cancer screenings to women who do not have insurance or are underinsured due to high deductibles. The services are provided at no cost thanks to a collaborative partnership between San Angelo Community Medical Center and Shannon Hospital. The Mammogram Program covers women in 10 counties in the Concho Valley. Within the past few months, 119 women have been scheduled for mammography services. Already, 432 diagnostic breast services have identified 12 women with breast cancer. The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health is committed to supporting the women in West Texas. HIGH PLAINS The institute continued to partner with the TTUHSC Breast Center of Excellence, sponsoring their 2018 Pap Days. At these events and through a grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), women receive free cervical cancer screenings, Pap smears and HPV vaccines. Using the SiMCentral mobile unit, the Third Annual Hereford Pap Day at Hereford Regional Medical Center provided 18 women with cervical cancer screenings resulting in four needing additional diagnostic services. One screening led to a mild dysplasia diagnosis. Additionally, for the Fourth Annual Amarillo Pap Day at the Heal the City Free Clinic, 19 women received cervical cancer screenings, resulting in two needing additional diagnostic services and two diagnoses of mild dysplasia. Under the direction of Rakhshanda Rahman, M.D., executive director of the Breast Center of Excellence, these events are provided for both uninsured and underinsured women of the Texas Panhandle. The effort is saving lives and making a difference throughout the year with the CPRIT-funded grant program. WEST CENTRAL TEXAS The institute is pleased to announce an expansion of the CPRIT grant for West Texas. With Rahman as the primary investigator, the grant will additionally provide no-cost mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, HPV vaccinations and Pap tests to women living in 60 counties throughout the Texas Panhandle, South Plains and West Central Texas regions. Through screening and outreach programs like this one, the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health is changing the lives of women who do not have the means to seek medical attention but truly need it. “We are thrilled with this CPRIT grant expansion to the Abilene area,” said Pearl Merritt, Ed.D., regional director for the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health in Abilene and co-primary investigator on the grant. “Abilene is located in a part of West Texas with a significantly higher rate of breast and cervical cancer morbidity compared to the rest of the state. This grant will help us overcome these health disparities.” “The need within this population is great because about 47 percent do not have health insurance,” Rahman said. “Ethnic minorities that make up a large proportion in this region have access issues that will be overcome by this grant.” 5 SIGNATURE EVENTS 6 impact report | summer 2019 FORMER FIRST LADY MRS. LAURA BUSH PRESENTS LUNCHEON encouraging women to take action The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health has in San Angelo welcomed back our namesake, Mrs. developed a website for educating both current and Laura Bush. The annual Presents Luncheon was a future healthcare practitioners about the role of sex and sold out success. Mrs. Bush grew up in Midland with gender differences in medicine. When asked why it was plenty of “West Texas Hospitality.” She told the important for women to be aware of these differences guests it was great to be back in San Angelo, “where and advocate for more personalized healthcare, Mrs. this community has always been so welcoming Bush was happy to respond. “I am so grateful that the of me.” institute is actively pursuing research in the field of sex and gender differences. We all believe that in most The institute’s founder and chief scientific officer, cases men and women should be treated equally. Majorie Jenkins, M.D., interviewed Mrs. However, when it comes to medicine, they Bush in a casual fireside chat setting. should not. Women have different Mrs. Bush was happy to begin bodies, thinner veins and smaller with a family update including frames. Symptoms of diseases in her daughter Barbara’s men can present differently in surprise wedding in women. It is so important for October. “We wanted her women to ask their doctors grandfather, George, to questions about the right be in attendance when dosage for medicines she got married,” she and the treatment plan said about the beautiful that has proven most and intimate wedding in helpful for women.” She Maine. Grandmother also encouraged women Barbara had passed away to take action when a few months earlier they think something is and former President wrong, to get checked, and George H.W. Bush was in to be persistent until they failing health. get answers. After all, you know your body the best. Mrs. Bush said her in-laws were both warm, engaging people with a It was a bittersweet moment when fierce loyalty to their large family. Jenkins Linda Ross, DNP, R.N., regional director asked if her mother-in-law, Barbara, had ever given of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health, any advice and Mrs. Bush shared a true story. “She announced her retirement after seven years. Mrs. Bush took a moment to express her gratitude to gave me one very important piece of advice. She told Ross and thank her for her outstanding leadership in me to never criticize my husband’s speeches because San Angelo.