Molly Carnes, M.D., M.S.
Jean Manchester Biddick Professor of Women’s Health
Department of Medicine
Director, U.W. Center for Women’s Health and
Women’s Health Research
Phone: (608) 267-5568 Stephanie Lent
Phone: (608) 267-5566 Judee Bell
Fax: (608) 267-5577
E-mail: mlcarnes@wisc.edu
sjlent@wisc.edu

Clinical Services Contact:
Stephanie Lent, M.S. 608-267-5566

The University of Wisconsin National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health is a partnership among the University of Wisconsin, UW Health, and Meriter Hospital. The overall mission of the Center of Excellence is to stimulate and coordinate activities that will improve the health and health care of women with an emphasis on underserved and minority women in the State of Wisconsin. Such activities include advocating for and collaborating in the development of women-centered models of health care; coordinating academic activities in women's health and women's health research across the UW Campus; stimulating the infusion of women's health issues into health professional curriculum; facilitating inter- and intra- institutional programming in women's health targeting a broad spectrum of community, professional, and academic audiences; and focusing attention on development of women leaders in academic medicine.

The following women's health programs are currently in existence at the University of Wisconsin and interface with the Center of Excellence:

• The UW site of the Women's Health Initiative
• A 2-year Fellowship in Women's Health funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs
• An NIH-funded Training Grant in Women's Health and Aging
• Graduate programs in Women's Health in the School of Nursing
• A Women's Studies Program with 25 years of scholarship in women's health
• A UW Women's Health Clinic in existence since 1986
• The Delores Buchler Women's Health Education Project
• Community based women's health education programs at Meriter Hospital
• Lactation programs at Meriter Hospital
• An interdisciplinary Breast Clinic at UW Health
• UW Health programs in Gynecological Oncology
• Perinatal and neonatal progams at Meriter Hospital
• An interdisciplinary Women Veterans Clinic

New initiatives being undertaken by the Center of Excellence include the following:

• Developing a Midlife Clinic as a collaborative effort between UW Health and Meriter Hospital
• Developing an Older Woman's Continence Clinic with easy access for nursing home residents as a collaborative effort between UW Health and Meriter Retirement Services
• Implementing networks to enhance communication among clinics invested in women's health care
• Creating a University of Wisconsin Center for Women's Health and Women's Health Research with official endorsement of appropriate academic committees
• Formalizing leadership development programs for post doctoral MD and PhD investigators in women's health research
• Developing a strategy of community outreach that teaches self-advocacy and facilitates sustained independent programming
• Negotiating for resources and establishing interdisciplinary working groups to infuse women's health issues into the undergraduate medical school curriculum
• Organizing mechanisms for philanthropy in women's health and women's health research