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Colleges and outreach units support women’s health
Dr. Luanne E. Thorndyke (right), assistant dean for continuing medical education and associate professor of clinical medicine in Penn State’s College of Medicine, and Dr. Jessie Rohner, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, talk about the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Alliance during the event launching the alliance, held at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Rohner is chairwoman of the alliance. John Biondo—Biomedical Communications, College of Medicine	Women are now living longer, but as they age, many face increased risk for health problems that can dramatically affect the quality of their lives. A new statewide coalition, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Alliance, is committed to helping women over 50 in Pennsylvania, especially women in underserved populations, live life to the fullest by providing them with education and awareness programs to help them make healthier choices.   Launched earlier this year, the alliance is a collaboration of more than 30 public, private and nonprofit Pennsylvania health care organizations, including the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the American Cancer Society, the Arthritis Foundation, Fox Chase Cancer Center and the American Association of University Women. Penn State’s College of Medicine and The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the College of Health and Human Development, the School of Nursing, the Gerontology Center, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Penn State Public Broadcasting and other University outreach units are supporting the alliance. In addition, several Penn State representatives are serving on the alliance’s Steering Committee.   “On average, women now live one-third of their lives after menopause,” Dr. Luanne E. Thorndyke, assistant dean for continuing medical education and associate professor of clinical medicine in the College of Medicine, said. A specialist in postmenopausal women’s health and member of the alliance’s Steering Committee, she noted, “After menopause, the level of the hormone estrogen drops significantly. This can put women at increased risk for developing osteoporosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and urinary incontinence.”   Medical advances and changes in lifestyle can help women reduce their health risks, prevent illness and live healthier lives, Thorndyke said.   During the official launch of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Alliance at the Hershey Medical Center, alliance members presented the results of a survey of Pennsylvania women over 50 about their knowledge of menopause and health concerns. The sample included 527 women, ages 50 to 90, who responded to the questionnaire.   The survey found two out of five women are not concerned about developing osteoporosis or heart disease; two out of three women are not concerned about developing depression; and only slightly more than half of the women surveyed said they were concerned about the higher risks of breast and cervical cancer. Yet all of these disorders are among the leading causes of death for women in the postmenopausal age group.   “The survey results indicate that we need to do more to raise awareness about the health risks associated with menopause and advancing age,” Thorndyke said. “We need to provide women over 50 with information about menopause to enable them to make better decisions about their health. The Pennsylvania Women’s Health Alliance is designed to do just that. By combining the resources and expertise from many different alliance partners, we can reach out to all Pennsylvania women in this age group and give them the tools to improve the quality of their lives.”   More than 60 health care professionals, Pennsylvania legislators and others attended the launch of the alliance. Speakers included Michelle DeStefano, operations director for Women’s Health at the Hershey Medical Center; Dr. Jessie Rohner, chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Alliance and executive director of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association; Dr. Wanda K. Jones, director of the U.S. Public Health Service’s Office of Women’s Health; and Dr. Carol Gnatuk, assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Penn State’s College of Medicine.   Dr. Susan C. Youtz, special project associate for Penn State Outreach and Cooperative Extension, is a member of the alliance’s Steering Committee. She sees the potential for many strategic and beneficial linkages between the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Alliance and Penn State’s Rural Women’s Health Initiative.   Pennsylvania’s rural population of women over 50 is growing and with it, the need for wellness and health education programs. The Rural Women’s Health Initiative seeks to improve the quality of life for women of all ages by enhancing the knowledge and skills of the professionals who provide their health care.   This partnership among Penn State units is a collaborative effort to address a need for greater care and prevention among Pennsylvania’s rural populations. Since 1998, the Rural Women’s Health Initiative has sponsored a series of conferences for health care professionals on cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and menopause, among other topics. Members include the College of Medicine, the College of Health and Human Development, the College of Agricultural Sciences, the School of Nursing, Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Division of Continuing Education.