Keeping the Women we Love Healthy

During the Howell Foundation luncheon in May, the audience was taken once again to the world of futuristic medicine with the presentation “Advanced Tissue Therapies: Progress in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, presented by Dr. Benjamin Shepherd, Senior Director of Therapeutics at Organovo Inc. Dr. Shepherd talked about examples of tissue engineering for both drug discovery and therapeutic tissue development.  His presentation focused on current research areas where bioscience and technology have been very successful. He elaborated on the areas of challenge in tissue regeneration:  1) current efforts in organ reconstruction based on previous research in vascular grafts (the blood vessel space), and 2) efforts focused on “additive manufacturing”, also known as 3-dimensional printing.  Of significant importance are the future applications of his own research in both areas. As individuals live longer, the need to address the surmounting gaps between tiss...

The bottom line is that research  IS  the cornerstone of women's health. The exclusion of female subjects in current research efforts translates into women being misdiagnosed and mistreated when dealing with illness. In the era of personalized medicine, a 'one-size-fits-all' approach on the basis of results from male research subjects, places women at a higher health risk. Why should YOU care about women’s health research? When your doctor discusses alternative treatments for Alzheimer's disease, it started with research... When we know about the differences between men and women, and heart health, it started with research... When you discuss mammography screening as a guideline to breast health, it started with research... When you take control of your health in an informed manner, chances are... it started with research! Research is how we know that women and men: Do not have heart attacks the same way. Do not face stress the same way. Do not react ...

Going from red to pink in 30 seconds and a call to put my money where my mouth is! I was sitting on the couch just last week when a sensitive issue on women’s health came up:  Research was showing that breast cancer survivors had a higher risk for heart disease . Great...  Just GREAT!  I was immediately reminded of the struggles I had to go through to make sure I got the preventive care I needed after my diagnosis.  Because of the type of insurance coverage, I depended on ‘official’ published guidelines.  That meant that if I wanted additional screening, I had to either wait because of these suggested “guidelines”, or pay out of pocket to get a mammogram for my peace of mind (which doesn’t come cheap!).  What if I have a history of breast cancer in my family? I don’t. And yet I still was diagnosed with it.  Much has been said about screening for prevention; however one can also ascertain that inappropriate or unnecessary screening...

                                                    ### About the Doris A. Howell Foundation: The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research is committed to keeping the women we love healthy, advancing women’s health through research and educating women to be catalysts for improving family health in the community. The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families through its Lecture and Evening Series, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community.                      ...

It is well known that approximately 19 million people suffer depression each year;  1 in 5 americans! Sadly, t he majority are women.  Did you know that women are twice as likely to develop clinical depression as men? As a matter of fact, one in four women is likely to have an episode of major depression at some point in her life. One third of women with depression live with this condition untreated.  But what are the major causes of depression and how do women react to treatment?  What are the genetic, biological and psycho-social factors that might lead women into depression?  Find out more!   About the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women's Health Research The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research is committed to keeping the women we love healthy, advancing women’s health through research and educating women to be catalysts for improving family health in the community. The organization does so by funding scholarship...

Our 20th anniversary celebration truly represented what the Howell Foundation stands for:  a sense of community, the importance of women's health research, empowering women with informational events, and introducing young minds to science with our scholarship program. Today, after 20 years, the inspiration brought about by Dr. Howell has allowed the Foundation to award  over 200 scholarships to aspiring researchers and doctors,  to hold over 80 educational events and to fund 3 grants addressing the health of underserved and/or "at risk" women in our community. The celebration was marked with testimonials from our scholars, all of whom are on their way to success.  Our first CEI program is starting to create an impact on Latino women in our community.  The support of our sister organization, Soroptimist International of La Jolla, was felt with donations towards our 2016 programs and fabulous attendance at our luncheon.  Dr. Stanley Maloy from one o...

About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:  The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research is committed to keeping the women we love healthy, advancing women’s health through research and educating women to be catalysts for improving family health in the community. The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families through its Lecture and Evening Series, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community.                                                                  ### Summary ...

Pictured above: Betty Brayshay, Brad Benter, Carole Banka, Steve Dahms, Carolyn Northrup and Dr. Doris Howell Board members from the Doris A. Howell Foundation gathered yesterday to work on new and creative ideas to discuss the importance of women's health news and research across the board...pun intended! So why is this so important? Just this week gender equality was all over the news; this time on the difference in pay between male and female nurses.  THAT translates into research as well.  Recent studies have shown that there is still a lack of female representation in preclinical studies and clinical trials, not to mention the differences when it comes to prescribing medication... we all have heard about how ambien affects women differently than men. As a result, if women continue to receive the same medical treatment as men, the women we love are at great risk of being unhealthy.  In other words, women are NOT men with ovaries. But what does it mean f...

The Doris A. Howell Foundation  for Women’s Health Research is committed  to keeping the women we love healthy,  advancing women’s health through  research and educating women to be catalysts  for improving family  health in the community. The organization does so by  funding scholarships to scientists  researching issues  affecting women’s   health; providing a forum for medical  experts, scientists,  doctors, researchers,  and authors to convey the timely information  on topics relevant to women’s health and  the health. of their families through its  Lecture and Evening Series,  and by funding research initiatives that  will create women’s  health awareness  and advocacy in the community.  Read the yearly review by clicking on the image.  

This is Pattie’s favorite quote-- words given by Susan K. Weber that she lives by.   But although her work comes from her heart, it is far from being brief.   A San Diego Native, Pattie Welborn attended SDSU to pursue a career in Psychology and Education and transferred to UCLA, where she eventually got her Master’s degree in Psychology.  She has been involved in the San Diego community ever since she was a teenager.   She gets her love of Philanthropy from her mother, who pioneered several community programs as staff member at the WYCA. Pattie met Dr. Howell as neighbors.  She was immediately drawn to Dr. Howell’s idea of promoting women’s health.  Dr. Howell always stressed the importance of women being their own health advocates; anywhere from researching information on women’s - health related issues, to keeping their own medical records.    For years research addressing women hadn't included female subjects in the process, not...

Brad Benter is a third-generation San Diegan.  He graduated from Torrey Pines High School and remembers being brought to the river beds in Carmel Valley for a science class right were the Shell  gas station now stands, two blocks from where I sat down to chat with him.   He had always been interested in the Hospitality industry and started pursuing it at age 14.  By 19, he was a restaurant manager; among the restaurants he managed: the Fish Market and the Crab Catcher Chain.  He attended San Diego State, and hard work and perseverance landed him in Hawaii at the famous Black Orchid.   And let’s not forget the surfing! He started to surf at 11 at the YMCA in Imperial Beach.   “Surfing teaches you a lot about life.  It’s about patience --waiting and being in the right place for THAT perfect wave.  It’s about balance and staying ON the board.  Both lessons have remained my entire life.”   During his life in the Hospital...

Learn about Breast Cancer.  www.beyondtheshock.com created by the National Breast Cancer Foundation has the resources. Many of us have been touched directly or indirectly by breast cancer.  Even though significant research progress has been made, awareness is the key to become one's own health advocate. According to the American Cancer Society, one in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their life time.  As of 2013, over 230,000 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and 64,000 with carcinoma in situ. Once regarded as a terminal illness, the survival rate is now 98% if detected and treated early.  It is estimated that 2.8 million women diagnosed with breast cancer are survivors (including women who are going through treatment); however 40,000 women in the US will sadly die from the disease. Considering that breast cancer will develop as a consequence of gene mutations, the causes of breast cancer are not specifically kno...

It is well known that approximately 19 million people suffer depression each year...   1 in 5 americans!  the majority of them are women.  Did you know that women are twice as likely to develop clinical depression as men? As a matter of fact, one in four women is likely to have an episode of major depression at some point in their life. One third of women with depression live with this condition untreated.  But what are the major causes of depression and how do women react to treatment?  What are the genetic, biological and psycho-social factors that might lead women into depression?  Find out more on how this illness affects women below.                                                                                       ...

Even though the function of the brain is a mystery, the causes and effects of depression are not. Statistics are STAGGERING!  The question is what to do about it?  Education is the first step on learning about an illness that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.  Education is power!  About the Doris A. Howell Foundation: The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research is committed to keeping the women we love healthy, advancing women’s health through research and educating women to be catalysts for improving family health in the community. The organization does so by funding scholarships to scientists researching issues affecting women’s health;   providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, researchers, and authors to convey the timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health. of their families through its Lecture and Evening Series, and by funding research initiatives that will cr...

HOPE is a key feeling in managing sadness and /or depression.  Did you know that w omen are twice as likely to   suffer from - and show signs of depression than men of the same age?   If true that we have all experienced times in our lives when we are sad, at what point do we realize that our sadness is depression?  Recognizing the differences and learning to identify when professional intervention is needed is wise and the first step to our health.    The Howell Foundation invited Dr. Christina Zampitella for its next Evening Series Seminar presentation:   Depression vs. Sadness: Learning to Know the Differences.   She will be talking about pragmatic, integrative ways to take care of ourselves, feel better and increase hope.  The skills presented by Dr. Zampitella will help us determine if we are sad or depressed, and whether we are improving or not.  At the end of the presentation, attendees will:  Be able to...