of Pi Beta Phi Spring-1996 WOMEN'S HEALTH AND PI RHIS IN MEDICINE o me n 's Women's health is of interest to aU members, of all ages. Covering such a broad-based issue has its challenges. We know we cannot begin to hit all the bases ... we cannot pretend to be the end-all for women's health, nor is that our goal. We decided to approach the subject from a Pi Phi angle and asked our members for their input and expertise. en page 4 begins the first of a two-part sm.es on women's health. Find out more about studies being conducted, pro­ gramming Pi Phi is providing our undergrad- uates, and recommenda----- tions on more healthful living. In addition, some members, in their own words, share stories of their careers in the ever­ changing field of medi­ cine, and others confide how medical situations have changed their lives. Departments ., From the Editor ... ...... .. .. 16 From the Reader ... .. ... .. ... 17 Directions .....................20 News from Arrowmont .. ........21 Foundation ...................30 Collegiate News .... ......... .. 31 In Memoriam .................36 Fraternity Directory .............38 News & otes ....... ......... 40 Pi Phi Express .............. ... 42 Spring o 1996 Chi cal trials of hormone replace­ However, beginning in the 1980s, ment therapy, dietary modifica­ winds of change began to blow in tion and vitamin supplements Washington, D.C., where funding for over an average period of nine years. the National Institutes of Health CNIH) , Another 100,000 women will be pan of the leading source of federally-financed an observational study to learn more medical research, originates. Women about the relationships of hfestyle and were entering the halls of Congress in family history on risk factors for the tar­ increasing numbers and President geted diseases. George Bush, recognizing the increas­ Recruitment for the study, begun ing number of women in medical in September 1993 in some centers, research, appointed Dr. Bernadine will continue through January 1997. Healey as director of the NIH. Women who are between the ages of The Women's CongresslOnal 50 and 79, past menopause and plan­ Caucus, led at the time by u.s. Rep. ning to live in an area near one of the Patricia Schroeder CD-Colorado), also research centers for at least three years began demanding equal attention-and When your mother told you to eat may be eligible to participate in WHI. more funding-for women's health chicken soup when you were sick, to Why WIll? Why Now? issues and research involving women. eat "an apple a day to keep the doctor Their efforts resulted in the creation of For years, medical research has away" and to eat your vegetables, she the Office of Women's Research within been almost "for men only" for many demonstrated a lot of practical knowl- NIH, an entity which reviews every reasons. Since almost all researchers I==-======-r.> dg bo rg d-.rmtI'irion === esearca . n onsidered until recently were men, t ey were habits that medical science has since for funding to see if women should ===. attracted to the conditions that affected confirmed. be-and are-included in the study them most. There is also legitimate But your mother probably didn't population. Their demands also gave concern about conducting research on tell you much about how to reduce birth to WHI. women of child-bearing age. your risks for heart disease, breast can­ CoinCidentally, sorority women And, there is the issue ofhor­ cer, colorectal cancer or osteoporosis­ were among the first to learn about the mones. Since medical studies must the leading causes of death for women new initiatives in women's health stud­ have all possible variables carefully bal­ over age 50-because she didn't know ies. Those attending the 1991 National anced to maximize the accuracy of what to tell you. Chances are your doc­ Panhellenic Conference meeting in results, allowing women whose hor­ tors haven't told you much about those Washington, D.C., received a briefing mones fluctuate from week-to-week to things either, and for the same reason. from Dr. Healey's office that included participate requires using large num­ A new $625-million study funded information about the then proposed bers of subjects, driving up costs in a by the National Institutes of Health Women's Health Initiative study. should change that. The Women's business where budgets are constantly Health Initiative (WHI) is a IS-year shtinking. What Will WIll Do? commitment to research on nsk factors As a result, women are being treat­ Crafted by some of the country's and prevention for the leading causes of ed for hean disease and colorectal can­ best research study designers, WHI tar­ death and disability in women past the cer, among other diseases, with gets the four leading causes of death age of menopause. therapies tested only in men. Likewise, and disability among women age 50- Some 163,000 women will be strategies for redUCing risk factors and plus: hean dISease, breast cancer, col­ involved at 40 clinical centers across preventing diseases in women have orectal cancer and osteoporosis, the the United States. One group of about developed from men-only research. weakening of bones after menopause 63,000 women will participate in chni- that is a major cause of fractures and hfestyle restrictions. Spring o 1996 o illl WHl's clinical trial involves hor­ charge to them). mone replacement therapy (HRT); a Some will return at healthy eating routine srressing three-year intervals for increased consumption of fruits, vegeta­ follow-up visits. All will be contact­ bles and grains and reduced consump­ ed by phone and/or mail for med­ tion of fats; and Vitamin D and calcium ical history updates until the study's supplements. data collection ends in 2005. Researchers want to know if HRT Women in the observational study daughters who may be helped. What will reduce risks for hean disease and will also prOvide an exrra benefit to do I have to do to volunteer?" osteoporosis and what effect it may medical research. As pan of the study, Researchers agree that it will be have on breast cancer risks. They want blood samples collected from partici­ that kind of enthusiasm that keeps the to know if healthy eating will reduce pants at enrollment will be kept frozen Women's Health Initiative going long­ incidences of breast and colorectal can­ for five to 10 years. As other research term to produce the Significant results cer and heart disease. They want to studies reveal more about human they anticipate from the intervention measure the effects of taking calcium genes, these samples can be analyzed in therapies being studied: a 25- to 30- and Vitamin D supplements on osteo­ the future to confirm those research percent reduction in incidences of heart porosis and colorectal cancer. findings and to provide even more disease, a 12- to 14-percent reduction At the same time, the WHI obser­ information about women's health. in breast cancer, a 20- to 30-percent vational study will provide a wealth of Why WHI Excitement? reduction in colorectal cancer, and a information on risk factors for these 25- to 35-percent reduction in osteo­ Although public awareness about diseases. Researchers will follow these porosis-caused fractures. WHI is just beginning, researchers and 100,000 women-one of the largest You can join the effort by calling health profesSionals and the initial study samples ever-for up to nine 800-54-WOMEN and telling a recruit­ study volunteers are excited. While the years, recording their health histories ment coordinator that you'd like to knowledge that can be gained and the and lifestyle information. The analysis "Ask WHI-and be part of the potential health benefit to millions of of this information should allow doc­ answer." women are both enticing, it is the tors to answer many questions about opponunity to make an impact on the women's health that your mother and by Julie B. Fix health of future generations of women you can't answer for your daughters Kappa Delta Sorority Contributing Writer that is leading many women to respond and granddaughters. to volunteer recruitment appeals. After making up to four visits to a Comments from women calling clinical center for screenings, women recruirrnent phone lines tell the story: enrolled in the clinical mal portion of "It's about time they did some­ WHI will make annual or semi-annual thing for women," one senior citizen visits to their clinical center. Roughly said. half of them will be receiving active "My grandmother and mother died therapy-hormones, dietary mterven­ from breast cancer and I want to do tion, calcium and Vitamin D supple­ something to make sure my daughter ments. The other half will receive doesn't." inactive therapy, or "placebos." "Every woman in my family has Women enrolled in the observa­ osteoporosis. I don't want to suffer like nona! pan of the study will make one that." to four visits to a clinical center for the "It may be too late for me to bene­ initial screening and baseline medical fit, but I have a daughter and grand- history and laboratory tests (at no Spring o 1996 000 trying to juggle school work with jobs, began as adolescents. Smoking is the extracurricular activities and social leading preventable cause of death in schedules. Achieving a balance between the United States. Smoking contributes eating properly, staying active and still to hean disease, osteoporosis and sev­ having time to concentrate on oneself eral cancers including those of the lung can be quite difficult, but it is not and perhaps breast.