Keeping the Women we Love Healthy

Donors and Board Members are not only proud, but inspired by the research topics of all our scholars.  Dr. Howell’s reasoning behind setting up the Howell Undergraduate Scholarship program was to get young scientists excited about a career in women’s health.  As a pediatric oncologist, she realized that women were taking care of everyone in their family but themselves. As best stated by Susan Baxter, Executive Director, California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB): “The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women's health was one of the first nonprofits nationwide that supported undergraduate researchers. We've been very grateful for our partnership.  Together, the Howell Foundation and CSUPERB have given $855,000 in awards to 200 students since 2001; the great majority, 87% of them, graduate and go on to apply successfully for medical school, graduate school or work in the bio medical field.” We had the opportunity of meet...

Pictured above: 2018 Howell Scholars with Howell Co-Chair Kathleen Franklin & CSUPERB Executive Director, Susan Baxter Every year, during our first luncheon for the year, we ratify a partnership that advances women’s health at its basic level –research; two great organizations aligned to provide opportunities for students to have access to careers in the biomedical research field. “CSUPERB believes that the best way to engage, recruit and retain students in life science careers is to provide access to and opportunities in real-world biotechnology research settings. We know that these experiences are particularly effective at engaging and retaining students who are the first in their families to attend college or are from communities underrepresented in the life sciences. By working with CSU faculty in the classroom and on research problems, students build a solid foundation for successful life science careers”, comments Susan Baxter, Executive Director, CSUPERB, and liaison...

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...

  ### 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. To learn more about the Foundation, visit  www.howellfoundation.org .      ###

Pictured above:  Sima Chokr (Biology, California State University, Long Beach),  Karl Liboro (Biology, California State University, Los Angeles),  Brandon Strong (Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo) & Alan Tran (Biological Sciences, San José State University).   Photo courtesy of John Zimmermann. Howell-CSUPERB Students Present their Fields of Research during Foundation’s first Luncheon of the Year. Scholars to Start their Research in Women’s Health in Spring & Summer 2016 CSUPERB and the Doris A. Howell Foundation:  Proud of our Scholars!  Twelve CSU biology students will now have a unique opportunity to conduct research in women's health.  Receiving a total of 28 applications, the Howell Foundation, partnering with the CSUPERB program, chose students from 9 CSU campuses to receive scholarships worth $42,000.  The scholarship awards were announced in January, and each scho...

2015 was a very busy -- and successful-- year!  Read about the impact the Doris A. Howell Foundation had in our community. Oh yea...  and 2016, get ready, here we come!  We kick off the year with the lecture "Understanding the genome 10,000 experiments at a time: applying genomic approaches to understand autoimmune disease in women" with Sonia Sharma, Ph.D. Why should you attend?  Did you know that:      ·         Taken together, autoimmune diseases strike women three times more than men? Some diseases have an even higher incidence in women! ·         Autoimmune diseases have been cited in the top ten leading causes of all deaths among U.S. women age 65 and younger?    ·         Autoimmune diseases represent the fourth largest cause of disability among women in the United States?  When you have a minute, read about the topic and regist...

On the road to celebrating our 20th anniversary we wish to recognize and celebrate the achievements of current and past Howell Scholars.  In this case, one of our 2014 scholars is focusing on making sure women are informed on HPV and the risk of cervical cancer.   The role Jennifer will be playing in women's health education is pivotal for women in the military. 2014 Scholar Jennifer Buechel and Howell Foundation Co Vice-chair Cheryl Wilson "Thank you to Dr. Howell and the members of the Howell Foundation! I was awarded a Howell Scholarship in 2014. The funding helped me to support my dissertation study on HPV knowledge and HPV vaccine uptake among U.S. Navy personnel. I have collected my data from over 350 participants in the U.S. Navy, and currently analyzing the results. The findings will help support preventive medicine and sexual health programs in the armed services. In addition, it will help the fight against cervical cancer (the #1 related cancer to HPV), both na...

Thinzar Helmi Lwin This year, our 20th anniversary celebration year, also includes celebrating the success of our scholars.   If our work empowers one individual to work towards women's health research, then we are just a step closer to ensuring women's well being and family health.    "The Howell research scholarship fueled my interest in science and cancer biology.  It led me to great mentors who guided me into the medical field during my time at UCSD.  I have since finished medical school in New York and am now a surgical resident training at Mt Sinai Beth Israel in NY. I am very appreciative of the Howell Foundation for giving me the opportunity to get started in biomedical research which helped me to get where I am today!"   T he 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 t...

It was 20 years ago when Soroptimist International of La Jolla helped establish the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research to honor a remarkable woman who’s work denoted love, passion for women’s health and compassion. 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 women in our community. Please Join us in celebrating the next 20 years of Women’s Health Research at our Featured Luncheon:  “One World, One Health” With Stanley Maloy, Ph.D.  Professor Dean, College of Sciences Associate Director, Center for Microbial Sciences        San Diego State University                                           ...

“The experience that stands out most to me was the opportunity to attend a Howell luncheon and meet Dr. Howell and the other members of the Foundation. The experience was so inspirational and it meant so much to be able to share that opportunity with my mentor, Dr. Doran. It was truly an honor to be in the presence of so many proponents of women’s health.” – Erin Fletcher (San Diego State University, 2013 Scholar) This year marks the 15th anniversary of a partnership that was only logical:  two great organizations aligned to advance women’s health research through education, and provide opportunities for students who otherwise would not have access to careers in the biomedical research field.  “CSUPERB believes that the best way to engage, recruit and retain students in life science careers is to provide access to and opportunities in real-world biotechnology research settings. We know that these experiences are particularly effective at engaging and retaining stude...

New Executive Officers of the Board to Lead Foundation’s Efforts to Grow Women’s Health and Research Awareness in the San Diego Community.   Scholarship and Research Grant Funding are Priorities to Further Women’s Health Research.  New and Exciting Topics for the Foundation’s Trademarked Educational Series San Diego, CA.- January, 2015.  The Doris A. Howell Foundation – a non-profit organization focused on promoting women’s health and research through scholarships, grant awards and community-oriented events– announced the election of its new officers.  The new Executive Board Members were installed as of January 19 th , 2015 and their terms will last through December, 2017.   Looking to bring the legacy of their knowledge to the fore front of the organization, board members voted for former co-chair, Carole Banka, Ph.D., as Chair,  Kathleen Franklin and Cheryl Wilson as Co-Vice Chairs, Kay Pierce as Treasurer and Brad Benter as Secre...

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...