WOMEN’S FACULTY COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER
February 2011
Visit our websites for news of committee activities, available
faculty workshops and archives:
http://inside.umassmed.edu/deoo/wfc ; www.umassmed.edu/facultyadmin/
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT UMASS
Women’s Faculty Committee Interim Report:
We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome back our former members
and welcome new members to the committee. During the first semester of
the academic year, we have been busy planning and arranging for events,
speakers and future programs. We also spent many hours working with Dr.
Luanne Thorndyke, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs on the proposal for a
Faculty Scholars Award. We presented our proposal to Dr. Thorndyke, who
then revised and vetted the proposal to the Chairs and Deans. We are
pleased that support for the award resulted in the ability to offer up to four
awards (of $30,000 each) for the upcoming year. The “Call for
Nominations” was disseminated to the UMMS faculty community, and a
number of applications were received for the first funding cycle. Awardees
were Nancy Byatt, DO, MBA, Susanne Muehlschlegel, MD, MPH, and Jill
Zitzewitz, PhD.
Under the leadership of Dr. Debbie Plummer, Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Equal Opportunity,
on February 11 we held a joint meeting of the WFC and the Professional Women’s Committee and the
Women’s Leadership Working Group, attended by more than 40 participants. There are three committees at
UMMS that focus on women’s issues and we looking forward to finding ways we can get to know each other
and work together.
During the next few months, we will be focused on the Women’s Faculty Awards, to be presented at the May
25th luncheon; nominations are due February 28. Members will also be asked to participate with the OFA on
the selection of the next Joy McCann Professor. Finally, there are two events that are planned that you might
wish to attend. On March 15, from 12:00 to 1:00 (doors open for lunch at 11:30) Deborah Levine, Ph.D., a
historian of medicine who is Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management at Providence College will
be our Women’s History Month speaker. Her talk is titled "Managing Bodies in the Land of Plenty: A medical
and cultural history of obesity in America." Tess Gerritsen, best-selling author of mystery and suspense novels,
will be the featured author for the YWCA’s Daybreak event, May 2nd, at 5:30pm in the UMMS Faculty
Conference Room.
The WFC is a “grassroots committee.” The Committee plays a complementary role to other groups on campus
with respect to women’s issues and brings together women from clinical and basic sciences faculty. As your
co-chairs, we continue to look forward to working with you to promote women’s faculty issues on campus.
Respectfully submitted: Elaine Martin, DA and Mai-Lan Rogoff, MD, Co-Chairs
Congratulations!
Elizabeth A. Murphy, MD, was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
Sherry L. Pagoto, PhD, was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine
Ann L. Sattler, MD, was promoted to Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
Carolina Ionete, MD, PhD was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology
Kathryn Kennedy, MD, was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Linda D. Sagor, MD, MPH, was promoted to Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
Stacy Weisberg, MD, was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Eleanor M. Duduch, MD, was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Patricia D. Franklin, MD, MBA, MPH was promoted to Professor of Orthopedics & Physical Rehabilitation
Michelle A. Kelliher, PhD, was promoted to Professor of Cancer Biology
Jill A. Zitzewitz, PhD, was promoted to Research Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular
Pharmacology
Jie Song, PhD, was promoted to Associate Professor of Orthopedics & Physical Rehabilitation
Katherine A. Fitzgerald, PhD was awarded Tenure on September 29, 2010
Susan L. Swain, PhD was awarded Tenure on September 29, 2010
The following women faculty were announced as UMMS Faculty Scholar Award winners:
Nancy Byatt, DO, MBA, Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Susanne Muelschlegel, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Neurology
Jill A. Zitzewitz, PhD, Research Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology
Lucy M. Candib, MD, Professor of Family Medicine & Community Health, was named the recipient of the
2010 University of Massachusetts President’s Public Service Award.
Upcoming Activities of Interest:
Events on campus
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Breakthrough Leadership: A Workshop on the Practical Application of Emotional Intelligence
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: S2-309 B Goff Learning Center, Medical School Building, University Campus
Speaker: Christine Mockler Casper, MBA
May 10, 2011
Leadership at UMass – Panel Discussion
Michael Collins, MD, UMMS Chancellor; Walter Ettinger, MD, UMMS/Memorial President; Terence Flotte,
MD, Dean SOM/Provost; John O'Brien MBA, UMMHC President/CEO
4:00pm-5:00pm
Faculty Conference Room (S1-342)
Monday, May 16, 2011
Annual Women's Awards Luncheon
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:S1-342 Faculty Conference Room, Medical School Building, University Campus
Monday, May 2, 2011
Women Authors Evening
Tess Gerritsen
5:30–8:30 p.m.
Faculty Conference Room, University Campus
UMass Medical School
$30 Admission - money raised will benefit YWCA of Central Mass. Daybreak
resources and services
Events in Worcester
Annual Women in Print
Presented by Worcester Women's History Project
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
5:30 PM-7:00 PM
Worcester Public Library
Saxe Room
3 Salem Square
Worcester, MA 01608
Snow date: Wed., March 16, 5:30pm.
The Institute for Global Leadership, along with the Briarwood Continuing Care Retirement Community
and the Fischer Institute at Nichols College, is proud to present two wonderful events:
Wednesday, March 23, 2011, from 7 to 8:30pm
Women: Essential for a Sustainable Peace (United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 of the role
of women in peace and security)
Speakers: Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, United Nations Security Council President in 2000. Grace
Akallo, author of "Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Uganda's Children", and Virginia Swain, 20 years of
leadership in the United Nations community.
This event is free and open to the public and being held at the Fischer Institute at Nichols College, Davis
205/207.
About United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325
About Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
About the Fischer Institute at Nichols College
Thursday, March 24, 2011, from 1 to 5pm
Life Leadership Award Luncheon and Reception at the Briarwood Continuing Care Retirement
Community.
Reserve a luncheon and reception ticket with United Nations Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury and Virginia
Swain, Founder and Director, Institute for Global Leadership. Luncheon, 1 to 2:30pm ($25). Reception,
Award, and Keynote Address by Ambassador Chowdhury, Building a Culture of Peace: The Need of Our
Times, 3 to 5pm ($10). Ambassador Chowdhury was the recipient of the first Life Leadership Award.
Sponsorships are available from $100-$500. Please call for details. Please RSVP by calling 508.245.6843
Visionary Women - Music, poetry at Tuckerman Hall
Sunday, March 27, 2011
4:00 PM-6:00 PM
Tuckerman Hall
10 Tuckerman Street
Worcester, MA 01609-3102
Preceding the concert (at 3:00pm) will be a lecture presented by the Worcester County Poetry Association with
Amy Belding Brown entitled “Emerson’s Oracles: Visionary Women in the Transcendental Circle.”
Cost: $25 general; $20 Sr/Student
THE SOULS OF BLACK GIRLS - Film
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
6:00 PM-8:00 PM
Worcester Public Library
3 Salem Square
125th Anniversary Gala - YWCA Central Massachusetts
Saturday, March 26th, 2011 6:00 pm
Cocktail Reception 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Dinner 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Live Auction 8:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Live Music & Dancing 9:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Mechanics Hall, Worcester
Cost: $125 per person; $1,250 per table.
National Events
Professional Development Seminars
Early Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar
July 9-12, 2011 - The Ritz-Carlton - Washington, D.C.
The application cycle has not begun for the 2011 seminar.
The Mid-Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar
December 3-6, 2011 - AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center - Austin, Texas
The application cycle has not begun for the 2011 seminar.
Work-Life Wellness:
Child Care Centers Now offer Drop-in Child Care
By Janet Hirsch, Sr. Work-Life Manager
Drop-in Child Care is now available at both Child Care Centers! If your regular day care is closed or your
provider is sick, drop-in care (full or part day) is open to families on a space available basis. Families of infant,
toddler and preschool children interested in using this service in 2011 should make an appointment to tour a
center and complete registration paperwork.
UMMS, in partnership with UMMHC, has been making Child Care available to employees for many years. In
January, 2010, the operation of the Child Care Centers was out sourced to Bright Horizons Family Solutions.
Bright Horizons, with their wealth of experience in planning new centers, assisted with the planning of the new
center on University Campus that successfully opened in August, 2010. As part of that transition, the Lincoln
Street Child Care Center closed. Bright Horizons manages both our centers that provide services to our
employees - University Center in the Shaw Building and Memorial Center, located on Oak Avenue in
Worcester. Currently we have openings at both Centers. If you have questions about the Centers or would like
to schedule a tour, please call the Center Director, Charlotte Sudyka at 774-455-5437 or e-mail the Centers at
[email protected].
Bright Horizons is a national leader in the field of child care. Their curriculum, “The World at Their
Fingertips”, creates age appropriate learning environments for all children and is based on established research
and theory in child development and education. Through a variety of opportunities, children make self-directed
and guided choices and experience the joys of childhood.
Bright Horizons Leadership believes that in order to have happy, developing children, the providers who care
for them need to feel valued and cared for, as well. Bright Horizons is the winner of numerous honors. They
are on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, the Boston Globe picked them this year as Number 1 for
the Best Place to Work in MA, and Working Mother, at their annual conference this year, honored them with
the title, “One of the Seven Wonders of the Work-Life World”. They truly live up to the standards they set for
their employees and the children they provide for.
For addition information about Work-Life programs at UMass Medical School go to
http://www.umassmed.edu/hr/worklife/index.aspx
WE CAN ALWAYS USE YOUR HELP!!!!!!!
Women’s Faculty Committee Workgroups: The Women’s Faculty Committee has
several workgroups that need volunteers. The amount of time needed varies but is generally not extensive.
Rather, the “work” is episodic, fun and shared with colleagues. Opportunities include:
Interviewing for the Council of Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Candidates for senior administrative
positions (Chairs, Deans, Vice Chancellors etc.) are interviewed by a combined committee of the Women's
Faculty Committee and the Council on Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Contact Marlene Tucker in the
Diversity and Equal Opportunity Office ext.6-6396 or email her at [email protected].
WHAT’S HAPPENING ELSEWHERE
Using bees to fight MRSA: Beeglue (propolis) has been used in
traditional folk medicine for many health-related conditions. Recently scientists from
the University of Strathclyde have found that the substance also is useful in fighting
MRSA, which has been linked to almost 2000 deaths between 1996 and 2008.
Vancomycin, one of the few drugs available for treating MRSA, may become less
useful with the arrival of strains that are less susceptible to it. Thus, this may be a
particularly useful discovery.
[Extracted from: University of Strathclyde (2010, June 29). Bees help to beat MRSA bugs. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 30, 2010,
from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100628111840.htm]
Growth in portion size over the past millennium: A study of over 50 paintings of the
Last Supper from the last 1000 years has found that the depicted plate and portion sizes have gradually
increased over time. Bread size increased by almost one-quarter, while plate size increased by almost twothirds, and entrée size increased by almost 70%. The study’s authors suggest that changes in availability in food
have been reflected in paintings over time.
[Extracted from: Cornell University (2010, March 23). Growing by Biblical portions: Last Supper paintings over Millennium depict
growing appetites. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 24, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322171014.htm]
Decreases in physicians’ work hours: Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that
between 1996 and 2008, average worked hours per week declined by approximately 7% for physicians, from 55
hours per week to 51 hours per week. The decrease was steepest for residents with the introduction of limits on
worked hours in 2003. Declines were smallest for physicians aged at least 45 years and for those working in
hospitals, at about 4%. This trend contrasts with stable hours over the past 3 decades for other professions such
as registered nurses.
[Extracted from: JAMA and Archives Journals (2010, March 3). Hours worked by physicians have decreased steadily in last decade.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 4, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100223161823.htm]
Higher depression during medical internship: A study by University of Michigan
investigators of 740 residents in 2007-2008 found that depression increased during internship. On a depression
scale ranging from 0 to 27, the average score increased from 2.4 prior to internship to 6.4 during internship.
The percentage with a score of 10 or higher, indicating depression, also increased from 4% to 26%. Increases
were greater for certain subgroups, including those with a previous history of major depression, as well as those
with more work hours during internship. Medical specialty and age were not related to incident depression.
[Extracted from: JAMA and Archives Journals (2010, April 8). Symptoms of depression increase during medical internship.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100406205354.htm]
Lifetime physician earnings vary by specialty: A Duke University study has estimated
that primary care physicians have approximately $2.7 million less in lifetime earnings and wealth than
specialists. According to the investigators’ model, a 50% increase in pay for primary care physicians would
lower this gap to $1 million. Given the anticipated greater demand for primary care physicians due to health
care reform, the authors note that addressing the shortage of primary care is urgent.
[Extracted from: Laura S. Brinn, May 4, 2010, 2.7 million reasons there aren’t enough primary care doctors,
http://news.duke.edu/2010/05/primary._print.ht]
Factors related to poorer care: Australian researchers studied 40 emergency department doctors
to assess the impact of interruptions on patient care. On average, there were 6.6 interruptions per hour,
interfering with more than 10% of doctors’ tasks. Doctors spent less time on tasks that were interrupted or
failed to return to the interrupted task, raising concerns for patient safety. Also, in analyses by University of
California, San Diego researchers of death certificates with a fatal medication error as the primary cause of
death, such errors occurring in medical institutions had a spike in July, coincident with the beginning of new
medical residencies. The authors suggest the need to provide more supervision of new residents, re-assess their
assignments, and increase medication safety education.
[Extracted from: BMJ-British Medical Journal (2010, May 12). Doctors interrupted at work give shorter and poorer care to patients,
study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 13, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100512191835.htm; Springer
Science+Business Media (2010, June 2). New medics in death spike? Study suggests inexperienced medical staff make fatal
medication errors. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 3, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602091319.htm]
Improved health with higher soda costs: A 20-year study of food intake from over 12,000
young adults has found a negative association between soda prices and soda consumption. Specifically, calories
from soda declined by 7% for every 10% increase in price. Moreover, lower soda consumption was related to
lower weight and pre-diabetes risk.
[Extracted from: Roni Caryn Rubin, Nutrition: Rise in soda price linked to better health, New York Times, March 15, 2010.]
Phosphates linked to aging process: High phosphate levels, found in sodas and processed
foods, have been found to speed up the aging process in mice, including conditions such as muscle and skin
atrophy, kidney disease, and cardiovascular calcification. Phosphate may have similar effects in other
mammals, such as humans.
[Extracted from: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2010, April 28). Early death by junk food? High levels
of phosphate in sodas and processed foods accelerate the aging process in mice. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 29, 2010, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100426151636.htm]
New findings on blood pressure: One of the aims of Healthy People 2010, controlled
hypertension for half of Americans with the condition, has been achieved, due in large part to better use of
medications. This compares with only 25% of hypertensives with a controlled condition in 1999-2000.
Unfortunately, prevalence of hypertension remains steady at almost 30%. Other research comparing those with
“white coat hypertension” and those with normal blood pressure found that almost twice as many participants in
the first group developed hypertension over the 8-year follow-up. The authors speculate that those with whitecoat hypertension may be more susceptible to stress, which may cause hypertension. Finally, several studies
have concluded that variability in blood pressure is a better predictor of stroke risk than having a high average
blood pressure. Previously, episodic hypertension was thought to be unrelated to stroke risk. The authors note
that the findings suggest the need for medications to stabilize blood pressure, not just lower it.
[Extracted from: Roni Caryn Rabin, Awareness: Reaching a goal on high blood pressure, New York Times, May 31, 2010; Anahad
O’Connor, The claim: ‘White-coat hypertension’ is nothing to worry about, New York Times, May 10, 2010; University of Oxford
(2010, March 21). Variability as well as high blood pressure holds high risk of stroke. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 22, 2010, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100Retrieved March 22, 2010, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100317223728.htm]
Bad respiratory hygiene: A New Zealand study that examined people’s responses to coughs and
sneezes noted that more than one-quarter went uncovered. In almost two-thirds of cases, people covered their
mouths with their hands. The recommended behavior, covering with a tissue, handkerchief, or elbow, occurred
less than 5% of the time. The authors suggest that these findings indicate that hygiene promotions occurring in
the wake of the H1N1 influence pandemic have not been effective.
[Extracted from: American Society for Microbiology (2010, July 12). One in four not covering coughs, sneezes. ScienceDaily.
Retrieved July 13, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100712121832.htm]
Mixed news regarding fruits and vegetables: A recent analysis of data from the EPIC
(European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study found that the reduction in cancer risk
from consumption of fruits and vegetables was relatively modest, strongest for heavy drinkers and cancers
related to smoking and alcohol. On the plus side, however, higher consumption of fruits and vegetables was
associated with lower levels of inflammation markers, linked to conditions such as cardiovascular disease and
diabetes. And flavonoids found in orange juice may protect against increases in inflammatory markers from
high-fat and high-carbohydrate consumption.
[Extracted from: Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2010, April 7). Cancer protective effect of fruits and vegetables may be
modest at best. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100406162941.htm;
Stephen Daniells, 24-May-2010, Fruit and veg advice gets nutrigenomic boost,
http://www.nutraingredients.com/content/view/print/304961; Stephen Daniells, 31-Mar-2010, Orange juice may protect against bad
effects of high fat meals, http://www.nutraingredients.com/content/view/print/284226]
Health impacts of global warming: Global warming is anticipated to have a number of
detrimental health effects for humans. The US Global Change Research Program has estimated that heat-related
deaths in cities such as Chicago may rise four-fold by 2050, due to increases in temperatures and related
atmospheric changes. Hotter weather means lower ability for the body to cool itself, which can lead to stroke,
as well as lower air quality and thus more problems for those with respiratory conditions. Dehydration may
become more common, with a possible increase of 30% in kidney stones. Insect-transmitted diseases from
mosquitoes and ticks also may increase. In addition, greater carbon dioxide could lead to higher pollen counts
and more poison ivy, and higher humidity could bring more fungal growth.
[Extracted from: Kate Sheppard, April 28, 2010, Can global warming give you kidney stones?
http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/04/climate-desk-health-insurance-climate-change; Kiera Butler, April 26, 2010, Why your
allergies are getting worse, http://motherjones.com/blue-marble-2010/04/climate-change-making-your-allergies-worse]
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Best and worst countries for mothers: In Save the Children’s
2010 State of the World’s Mothers, the United States was ranked at 28th, in part
because of its low maternity leave and benefits, and its relatively high maternal death
rates compared with other rich nations. That rating put it behind almost all of
western Europe, and just above most of the former Soviet bloc countries. Norway
and Australia were rated first and second, respectively, while Afghanistan was last
among the 160 countries included.
[Extracted from: Donald G. McNeil, Jr., Motherhood: Norway tops list of the best places to be a
mother; Afghanistan rates worst. New York Times, May 17, 2010.]
New thinking on gestational diabetes…: Previous guidelines for
diagnosing gestational diabetes were designed to identify women at risk for developing diabetes. Recent
research suggests, however, the importance of considering risks to the baby and pregnancy-related risks for the
mother. A fasting blood glucose level of at least 92, once considered to be in the normal range, was linked to a
two-fold risk of an overweight baby or preeclampsia, and a 40% higher risk of early delivery. Application of
new guidelines would result in a diagnosis of gestational diabetes for more than 16% of pregnant women,
compared with 5-8% under existing guidelines.
[Extracted from: Northwestern University (2010, February 27). Gestational diabetes: blood sugar levels once considered normal are
not safe for baby, mother. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 1, 2010, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100226084005.htm]
And on gestational weight gain: A study comparing gestational weight gain for two pregnancies
from the same mother indicates that excess gain is linked to high birth weight. Weight gain of 44-49 pounds
was associated with a 1.7-fold risk of a high birth weight compared with a weight gain of 18-22 pounds. Unlike
previous studies, the within-mother comparisons enabled researchers to distinguish the contributions of weight
gain from other predictors such as genetic factors.
[Extracted from: Children’s Hospital Boston (2010, August 4). Obesity prevention begins before birth: Excess maternal weight gain
increases birth weight after controlling for genetic factors. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 6, 2010, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100804205145.htm]
Elective mastectomies and oophorectomies: Among women undergoing mastectomy for
breast cancer, approximately 6% chose a double mastectomy in 2006; this rate was 10% among patients in their
40’s, and 5% even among those with ductal carcinoma in situ, the most curable form of breast cancer. For most
patients, however, the highest risk is from spread of the existing cancer, which is unaffected by removal of the
healthy breast. And among women receiving a hysterectomy, over half also have a bilateral oophorectomy.
Ovary removal, however, leads to lower estrogen and androgen levels even among postmenopausal women. In
turn, lower circulating estrogen is linked to conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease, conditions much
more common than ovarian cancer. Thus, disadvantages of oophorectomy may outweigh its advantages for
many women.
[Extracted from: Tara Parker-Pope, After cancer, removing a healthy breast. New York Times, March 8, 2010; Elsevier Health
Sciences (2010, March 10). New study questions benefits of elective removal of ovaries during hysterectomy. ScienceDaily. Retrieved
March 11, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100309171427.htm]
Diminishing returns from bisphosphonates: Several recent studies suggest that long-term
use of bisphosphonates, which reduce bone loss during remodeling, may lead to lower-quality bone despite
greater bone quantity. The more brittle bone appears to be more susceptible to atypical fractures, e.g., of the
femoral shaft (the leg bone connecting the hip and knee) or subtrochanteric (just below the hip joint). The
absolute risk of such fractures, however, is low, and bisphosphates are associated with lower rates of more
common types of fractures. The researchers point to the need for more long-term studies of the impact of
bisphosphonate, and consideration of a “drug holiday” after five years of use.
[Extracted from: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2010, March 22). Quantity vs. quality: Long-term use of bonebuilding osteoporosis drugs. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/2010/03/100310083439.htm]; JAMA and Archives Journals (2011, February 22). Long-term use of
osteoporosis medication associated with increased risk of atypical fractures. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 23, 2011, from
http:/www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110222162314.htm]
Impact of high-protein diets on bone density: In postmenopausal women who are dieting,
those on diets with higher protein, particularly from animal sources, retain more lean body mass, but may lose
more bone mass than women with a vegetarian diet. Calcium supplements had no effect on bone loss.
Researchers suggest that postmenopausal women seeking to lose weight should opt for a higher protein
omnivorous diet rather than one high in animal sources of protein.
[Extracted from: Lorraine Heller, High-protein diets may cause bone loss in older women, study. NutraIngredients, July 8, 2010,
http://www.nutraingredients.com/content/view/print/311530]
Got milk – for muscles? In a 12-week trial of milk versus energy drinks in young women engaging
in weight lifting, those drinking milk one hour after exercising gained more muscle and lost more fat than those
who drank sugar-based energy drinks with a similar appearance to milk.
[Extracted from: MacMaster University (2010, May 26). Milk: Two glasses a day tones muscles, keeps the fat away in women, study
shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100526141854.htm]
Link between job pressure and heart disease in younger women: Analyses of
data from over 12,000 nurses in the Danish Nurse Cohort Study have found that women reporting higher work
pressure were more likely to develop heart disease in the next 15 years, including angina and heart attacks. The
association remained even after accounting for other risk factors such as smoking, but was significant only for
those aged 50 or younger. Older nurses’ risk of heart disease may be more strongly tied to other risk factors, or
vulnerable nurses may have left that job. These results are similar to findings in men.
[Extracted from: BMJ-British Medical Journal (2010, May 5). High-pressure jobs boost young women’s heart disease risk.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 7, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/10050510534.htm]
For better health, clean your house? A study of almost 1000 African Americans aged 49-65
found that participants’ physical activity was predicted best by the tidiness of the home, more than by outside
factors such as the condition of sidewalks. The researchers suggested that efforts to increase physical activity in
urban residents should include raising levels inside the home.
[Extracted from: Indiana University (2010, June 2). Tidy house, fitter body? ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 3, 2010, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602121059.htm]
High payments offered to egg donors: A recent article in a bioethics journal summarizes
compensation offered in more than 100 advertisements for egg donors in college newspapers. Compensation
exceeded $10,000 – the maximum recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine – in more
than 25% of the ads. Moreover, compensation increased on average by over $2000 for each 100-point increase
in the school’s average SAT score, in contrast to the society’s guidelines against payment for specific
characteristics. Most fertility clinics are members of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, which
is linked to the ASRM, and would be expected to follow the ASRM’s guidelines.
[Extracted from: David Tuller, Payment offers to egg donors prompt scrutiny. New York Times, May 10, 2010.]
DHEA supplementation may reduce infertility: In a randomized trial in 20 women
receiving infertility treatments, those who received DHEA supplements were more likely to conceive compared
with those in the control group – 23 % versus 4%. Their pregnancies also were more likely to result in a
healthy pregnancy and delivery. The probable mechanism of action, however, is unclear.
[Extracted from: American Friends of Tel Aviv University (2010, July 1). Increasing fertility threefold with DHEA?. ScienceDaily.
Retrieved July 2, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100701145535.htm]
WOMEN AND MEN:
Gender and mosquito bites: Conventional wisdom holds that
mosquitoes prefer women due to their higher estrogen levels. In fact, however,
mosquitoes bite men more often, perhaps because of their greater body size.
Mosquitoes are attracted by carbon dioxide and body heat, both of which are higher
in larger people and in pregnant women. To keep mosquitoes away, studies find that
wind and fans are effective because they disperse exhaled carbon dioxide.
[Extracted from: Anahad O’Connor, The claim: mosquitoes are attracted to women more than to
men, New York Times, June 20, 2010; Anahad O’Connor, The claim: to repel mosquitoes, use a
house fan, New York Times, July 12, 2010.]
New health care law bans sex discrimination in health
insurance: Prior to the new health care law, insurers selling individual health
policies could charge higher rates – up to 48% higher – for women than for men,
even for policies excluding maternity care, based on greater usage of health care by
women. Moreover, some insurers denied to coverage to victims of domestic violence or those with a previous
Caesarean section as having pre-existing conditions. The new law prohibits such gender rating, and requires
that individual policies include maternity coverage as an “essential health benefit.”
[Extracted from: Denise Grady, Overhaul will lower the costs of being a woman, New York Times, March 29, 2010.]
Both brides and grooms put on the pounds: A 2008 study found that compared with when
they were single, body mass index for married men increased 1.5% and for married women increased 2%
beyond usual age-related gains. Increases were only 1% for those who cohabited without marriage, perhaps
because the relationship was perceived as less stable. Consistent with these findings, a 2009 study found that
married adults were most likely to be obese, while those who were dating tended to be the thinnest. Also,
couples’ health behaviors may change after marriage, with women having the same size food portions as their
husbands, less exercise due to greater demands on one’s time, and more social engagements.
[Extracted from: Abby Ellin, For better, for worse, for BMI, New York Times, June 11, 2010.]
Trends in academic gender differences: Over the past 30 years, differences between male
and female seventh-graders have shrunk, with similar performance between boys and girls at almost all
performance levels. Gender gaps remain at the highest performance levels, however. Boys continue to score at
the highest levels of math and scientific reasoning more often than girls, while girls are more likely than boys to
score extremely well on writing and verbal ability.
[Extracted from: Duke University (2010, July 6). Gender gap persists at highest levels of math and science testing, 30-year study
finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 8, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100706113210.htm]
Male and female babies respond differently to pregnancy stressors: In
response to stressors such as smoking or psychological stress, female babies will grow more slowly, while male
babies will keep growing at the same rate. As a result, continued stress may lead to pre-term delivery or fetal
death in males but not for females. These differences result from differences in the role of cortisol, which
affects placental function for female babies but not males. The study’s author suggests the work could help
obstetricians assess growth in at-risk pregnancies, and develop sex-specific treatments for pre-term delivery.
[Extracted from: University of Adelaide (2010, April 30). Sex of baby drives response to pregnancy stress. ScienceDaily. Retrieved
May 3, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100429092930.htm]
Greater risk of severe angina for women: In a recent Canadian study, among those with
severe (Class IV) angina, women were 21% more likely to develop coronary artery disease than men. Upon
adjustment for other factors such as diabetes and smoking, the increase in risk from having Class IV angina was
almost three times higher in women than in men (82% versus 28%). In short, severe angina was a better
predictor of coronary artery disease for women than for men. Men, however, were more likely than women to
have severe coronary artery disease and at younger ages.
[Extracted from: Wiley-Blackwell (2010, July 10). Severe angina poses three times the coronary artery risk for women than men.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 12, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100708071511.htm]
Impact of Title IX on life beyond sports: By examining variations across states, a
University of Pennsylvania economist found that in states with larger boys’ sports programs prior to Title IX –
and thus larger changes required to achieve gender parity – gains in employment for women were larger. Title
IX-related changes were linked to 20% of the rise in women’s education and 40% of the increase in
employment rates for women aged 25 to 34. In addition, a comparison of girls enrolled in high school before
and after Title IX found that increased sports participation with Title IX was linked to a 7% decline in obesity
more than 20 years later. Gaps in sports participation persist, however, with half of boys in sports compared
with only one-third of girls.
[Extracted from: Tara Parker-Pope, As girls become women, sports pay dividends. New York Times, February 15, 2010].
Testosterone, risk-taking, and trust: In a recent experiment, young male skateboarders were
asked to perform maneuvers first in the presence of a male, and then in the presence of a young, attractive
woman. When the woman was present, the skateboarders attempted riskier tricks and had higher testosterone
levels than when the man was present. And when young women were given testosterone under the tongue, their
ratings of trustworthiness of men shown in photos were lower than when they received a placebo. The
testosterone-related difference was greatest for women who were the most trusting. The researchers suggest
that testosterone helps with rational decision-making, including skepticism when choosing a mate.
[Extracted from: SAGE Publications (2010, March 22). Women do make men throw caution to the wind, research confirms.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100319115715.htm; Nicholas Wade,
She doesn’t trust you? Blame the testosterone. New York Times, June 7, 2010.]
Gender gap in pay due to differences in negotiating skills: Among full-time
workers, on average women earn 77% of what men earn, up from 59% in 1965, despite higher levels of
education. The gap is due in part to fewer years of work experience due to child-rearing, but about 40% of the
pay gap remains unexplained. Recent research suggests that women negotiate for salaries less effectively than
men. Advice to women from these researchers includes: being proactive in asking for a raise; being informed
regarding an appropriate salary to request; anticipating a boss’s objections and communicating that you
understand the boss’s position; re-consider the division of household responsibilities; and think creatively.
[Extracted from: Tara Siegel Bernard, A toolkit for women seeking a raise. New York Times, May 14, 2010.]
The role of personal preference in the gender gap in STEM careers: Some
recent comparisons of male and female researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) careers indicate that in general, women are doing as well as men in terms of grant funding and career
opportunities, suggesting that discrimination does not account entirely for the lower numbers of women in such
careers. Nor are there large differences in aptitude. Instead, other research indicates that the gap is due in part
to different preferences. For example, fathers were more likely than mothers to remain career-focused. In
addition, males are more likely than females to enjoy “things” – such as mathematics – while females are more
likely to prefer “people,” e.g., life sciences or other careers that are socially helpful.
[Extracted from: John Tierney, Legislation won’t close gender gap in sciences. New York Times, June 14, 2010.]
On the other hand… lower promotion rates for female medical school
faculty: An analysis by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) of 10-year promotion rates
from 1967 through 1997 for first-time assistant and associate professors found that men were consistently more
likely to be promoted than were women. The proportion of faculty who were women, however, increased over
this time period. The percentage of first-time assistant professors who were women rose from 18% to 37%, and
the percentage of first-time associate professors who were women increased from 8% to 26%.
[Extracted from: Promotion rates for first-time assistant and associate professors appointed from 1967 to 1997, Analysis in Brief, Vol
9, No 7, May 2010, AAMC.]
And lower pay for female life sciences researchers…: Based on a survey of life
sciences faculty from 50 universities with the most NIH funding, men earned more than $13,000 more per year
than women, even accounting for work hours and publications. Among full professors, women faculty spent
more time on service and administrative responsibilities such as journal editing, while men faculty spent more
time working in the laboratory. The study’s authors point to the need to recognize service-related activities
when determining pay and promotion.
[Extracted from: Women are working more and earning less in academic medicine. NIH Updates on Women, Vol 3, Issue 2 (Mar –
Apr 2010).]
And fewer scholarly awards: A study of awards from 13 disciplinary societies notes that women
scientists receive service and teaching awards in proportion to their representation in the PhD pool in the
particular discipline. In contrast, women tend to be underrepresented when it comes to scholarly awards. The
study’s authors suggest this is due to the selection process. Selection committees with female members are
more likely to award research awards to women, but many committees have no female members, and few are
chaired by females. Moreover, there are few operating guidelines and little oversight. Also, letters nominating
women tend to use terms more often associated with women, such as “dependable,” which do not match the
male-associated language in nomination solicitations.
[Extracted from: Southern Methodist University (2011, February 22). Gender gap: Selection bias snubs scholarly achievements of
female scientists, study suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 23, 2011, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110222151348.htm]
Fourth US Supreme Court female justice: In August 2010, Elena Kagan was sworn in as a
Supreme Court justice, after Senate confirmation largely along party lines. Justice Kagan was formerly the
dean of Harvard Law School, in addition to serving in both the Clinton and Obama administrations. Beginning
with the court’s fall session, a third of the justices will be women for the first time.
[Extracted from: Carl Hulse, Senate confirms Kagan as justice in partisan vote. New York Times, August 5, 2010; Peter Baker, Kagan
is sworn in as the fourth women, and 112 th justice, on the Supreme Court. New York times, August 7, 2010.]
Women’s Faculty Committee Newsletter: Special thanks
to Pat Franklin, Elaine Martin, Heather-Lyn Haley, Janet
Hirsch, and John Congdon for materials for this newsletter.
For future issues, please send comments and news to the
editors:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]