The Grand Opening of the Center for Women's Health Research at Meharry
MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE LAUNCHES NATION’S FIRSTRESEARCH CENTER TO STUDY HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG WOMEN: Center for Women’s Health Research to Examine Why Women of Color Have Higher Rates of Cardiovascular Disease, Breast Cancer Mortality, Other Diseases

October 6, 2006;

Nashville, TN--Meharry Medical College has established the nation’s first research center devoted to the scientific inquiry of diseases that disproportionately impact women of color—the Center for Women’s Health Research (CWHR). The Center will celebrate the formal opening of its new facility on Thursday October 26 at 5:00 p.m.

Meharry has developed the CWHR in response to the striking health status disparities that remain in the rate of diseases that disproportionately affect the health and livelihood of racial and ethnic minorities—particularly women. The Center is part of an emerging research infrastructure at Meharry borne out of a vision and ambitious strategic plan that seeks to drive the College to preeminence in health disparities research over the next five years.

Meharry has begun to help implement its research vision and agenda by assembling a strong team of faculty researchers. Leading this effort is Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D., a Harvard-trained physician who serves as Senior Vice President of Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine. Dr. Montgomery Rice also serves as Executive Director of the CWHR. 

The Center is a state-of-the-art research facility where disparate medical scholars assembled under one roof will collaborate to learn why women of color, who account for one-third of all U.S. women, are at greater risk of mortality from certain diseases. Researchers at the Center will help develop future medical and public health practices, treatments, and interventions that can improve the health of women across their lifespan. 

"We want to understand why these disparities exist among women of color,” Dr. Montgomery Rice observed.   Is it genetically or environmentally based?   Through the research conducted at the Center, we can begin to understand the disparities and make improvements to eliminate these health related issues.   The benefit for all women is improvement in their overall health, family life, increased work productivity, and improved economic status for the nation.

The top three leading causes of death for women by race/ethnicity in 2002were:

• American Indian – Cancers, diseases of the heart, and accidents (unintentional injuries)

• Hispanic – Diseases of the heart, cancers, strokes

• African-American - Diseases of the heart, cancers, strokes

• Asian / Pacific Islanders – Cancers, Diseases of the heart, strokes

• Caucasian (non-Hispanic) – Diseases of the heart, cancers, strokes

While many women die from the same diseases, it is the higher rates among women of color that causes concern. For example:

• Minority women are 2-3 times more likely than Caucasian, non-Hispanic women to have Type II diabetes.

• African American woman have the highest mortality rate from breast cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer of all population groups.

• African American women had a maternal mortality rate three times higher than Caucasian, non-Hispanic women in 2000.

• The AIDS rate for African American women is almost four times that for Hispanic women and almost 20 times that for Caucasian , non-Hispanic women.

The Center will conduct evidence-based research in areas such as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and cardiovascular disease. Researchers at the Center will also investigate, for example, why the favorable bone density levels of African-American women compared to Caucasian women during young adult years, ultimately results in older age African-American women dying at a disproportionately higher rate than their Caucasian counterparts. On this question and others, the Center brings together basic science, as well as clinical and behavioral research.

The Center’s research team includes investigators from across Meharry’s campus, led by Drs. Montgomery Rice and Stella Nowicki. Dr. Montgomery Rice’ research has focused on menopausal health, contraceptive development and endocrine changes that occur in the development of ovarian cancer.

Dr. Nowicki is responsible for the scientific and operational aspects of
the research program assuring interaction and collaboration among the
researchers within the Center, monitoring ongoing research, identifying
research and educational activities.

The 10,000 square foot Center will house a Radiology Core facility that will include -Mammography, Ultrasound, and Bone Density room; a Behavioral Core, Fitness Core, Examination room, and Cellular, Tissue Culture, and Endocrine laboratories. The Center is primarily a research center, not a treatment facility, and is open to all women.

To learn more about the Center for Women's Health Research at Meharry
Medical College, visit cwhr.mmc.edu. or contact the Center at (615) 327-6405.