It's all about celebrating the women and men who ensure women’s equality in scientific research, health and education.

Much of the knowledge about diseases, treatment, and drug development are based on research results of male subjects, ignoring the possibility of gender differences and inferring that what works for men will work for women as well. Applying results of clinical studies that include only men affects women adversely.  Even though there has been a significant growth in health research regarding key differences between men and women, women are still underrepresented in many research areas.

The Howell Foundation's key initiatives are focused on guaranteeing an emphasis on all areas of research that may affect women’s health, promoting the need for further women’s health research, avoiding research bias by addressing the backlog of research efforts that include women, and ensuring that all the progress in research is integrated in educational publications and information sources available to our community.

It has only been a little over 25 years since the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 that mandated the inclusion of women and minorities as subjects in all federally funded clinical research and related outreach, and established of the Office of Research on Women’s Health.

Shortly thereafter, the Doris A. Howell Foundation was established.  Since then, the Howell Community continues to make serious strides in eliminating gender bias in research. 

So on this march 8^th, we want to celebrate all of us who are committed to “Keeping the Women we Love Healthy”. Because, after all, “how many of us have wives, how many of us have daughters, how many of us have sisters? And we all have mothers...” It takes a community to help them stay healthy, as Dr. Howell would say.

We recognize the efforts of our academic partners who are committed to advancing women’s health through education, ensuring our guiding principle of “keeping the women we love healthy.” The advancement of education is the cornerstone that guarantees women receive the care based on research tailored to them.

We are proud of all our past and present scholars who made the decision to pursue a career in science and medicine, emphasizing study and research in the area of women’s health. Today, undergraduate scientists from UCSD, and the California State University system through C-SUPERB are on their way to pursuing a career in science, or are already there and continue to thrive.  

We applaud the Ph.D. nursing candidates from USD’s Hahn School of Nursing who are on their way to becoming leaders in the community they take care for and have moved the standards of care for our families forward.

We celebrate the CEI scientists who partner with community organizations in their efforts to further research involving under served or at risk women in the San Diego community.  They not only conduct valuable studies, but educate underrepresented women as well. 

We especially acknowledge the donors who make all of our research awards possible.  Be it a "Friend" donation, a scholarship donation, or something in between, YOU make all of this research and education possible.  We thank you! 

We have learned from over 100 physicians and researchers who convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families. Translating novel research findings for the public empowers women to become their own best health care advocates. 

We honor our co-conspirators, Soroptimist International of La Jolla, who recognized the efforts of Dr. Doris Howell by establishing the Foundation in her name. To this day, many members of Soroptimist continue to support the advancement of women’s health through their donations to the Foundation and participation on our Board of Directors.  

And we most certainly are very thankful to our fellow past and present Board members, volunteers and administrator who, with their talent and experience, are moving the need for women’s health research to the forefront of women’s health care.   

On this International Women's day, we celebrate the life of Dr. Doris A. Howell, whose relentless work in making sure women had the same research rights as men has led to significant awareness in our community; a woman who continues inspiring all of us to pursue women’s health equality through research and education even though she is no longer with us.

We, all of us, ARE the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research!  

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About the Foundation:

The mission of the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women's Health Research is to make a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. We strive to become THE premier organization advancing women’s health.

The organization does so by funding undergraduate research scholarships and graduate nursing research grants to scientists researching issues affecting women’s health; presenting the latest medical research findings at our events and through our Speaker Service program, where experts, scientists, doctors, authors and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families; and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community.