On November 13, 2023, the White House appointed APA member Carolyn Mazure, PhD, to chair the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. Mazure is the founder of Women’s Health Research at Yale, the university’s interdisciplinary research center on the health of women and the interplay of sex, gender, and health. At Yale, she is the Norma Weinberg Spungen and Joan Lebson Bildner Professor in Women’s Health Research, and professor of psychiatry and psychology.
President Biden is directing his administration to establish an initiative consisting of executive departments and agencies across the federal government, deliver concrete recommendations to advance women's health research, take a targeted, high-impact approach, and engage the scientific, private sector, and philanthropic communities.
The White House effort is led by First Lady Jill Biden, who has long championed women's health, and the White House Gender Policy Council. “Every woman I know has a story about leaving her doctor’s office with more questions than answers. Not because our doctors are withholding information, but because there’s just not enough research yet on how to best manage and treat even common women’s health conditions,” said the first lady. “In 2023, that is unacceptable. Our new White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research will help change that by identifying bold solutions to uncover the answers that every woman and her family deserves. We also are calling on congressional leaders, the private sector, research institutions, and philanthropy to join us in taking urgent action to improve the health and lives of women throughout the nation.”
In December 2023, APA Services staff met with Mazure and representatives of the White House Gender Policy Council to provide recommendations on integrating women’s behavioral health in the initiative and will also be providing written comments. APA has been a leader in women’s behavioral health and is working with APA Divisions 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women) and 38 (Society for Health Psychologyopens in new window) to ensure the White House’s work across the federal government reflects the needs for more research on this critical issue and provides equitable solutions that will benefit women across the lifespan.
For more information, contact Krysta Jones.