In Our Words

Sex-Specific Strategies in Emergency Department Cardiac Care Keynote Address by Dr. Alyson McGregor — The Heart of the Matter: From Research Gaps to a Revolution in Women's Health On April 29th, clinicians and researchers in women's cardiovascular health gathered for a full day conference on Sex Specific Strategies in Emergency Cardiac Care. The program brought together cardiologists, emergency physicians, pharmacists, epidemiologists, nurses, EMTs, and community health advoc

On December 18th, 2025 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduced two proposals to the conditions of participation for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.  These proposals would severely restrict access to gender-affirming care for minors. Additionally, the second proposal, which would bar hospitals and their affiliated clinics from reimbursement eligibility if gender affirming-care is provided to minors, is an unprecedented use of these conditions. This fundi

The WHEM team attended this year’s National Abortion Federation (NAF) Annual Conference, where we heard from independent clinics, advocacy organizations, research groups, and frontline clinicians who are collaborating to sustain abortion access and patient safety. National data demonstrate that post-Dobbs abortion access has shifted rather than disappeared, with telemedicine now accounting for a substantial proportion of care and interstate travel nearly doubling since 2020 (

HBO’s The Pitt packs a thoracotomy, lateral canthotomy, and pericardiocentesis all into one, incredibly unlikely ER shift—but the most unrealistic part is the ease of abortion medication access. While the show portrays a young physician navigating clinical, legal, and emotional hurdles to provide care, the truth is that most U.S. emergency departments don’t offer abortion services at all. This editorial unpacks where The Pitt gets it right, where it misses the mark, and why f

January 21, 2025. The WHEM Journal Club focused on the state of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs in the U.S. and challenges in providing post-assault care for diverse populations. The discussion highlighted the historical development, efficacy, and barriers faced by SANE programs, including insufficient staffing, funding, and representation. Key issues identified were reduced program growth since 2009, lack of trauma-informed care partnerships, and the impact of

October 29, 2024. The Women’s Health Journal Club explored the pervasive issue of data bias in medicine and its historical and ongoing impact on women’s health. The discussion highlighted the thalidomide tragedy of the 1950s–60s, the exclusion of women from clinical trials in the 1970s, and subsequent policy changes mandating women's inclusion in research, such as the 1993 FDA directive. Key references included Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, which illustrates syste