Midwest USA

Founded: 2018

Our Chapter was founded in December of 2018, at the margins of the Midwest Universities for Global Health. Over the past two years, this Chapter has steadily grown and adapted to a global pandemic. We are housed in the Global Health Center at Washington University in St. Louis as a part of the University’s commitment to Gender Equity and Diversity.

We were co-founded by Caline Mattar, MD and Jacaranda van Rheenen, PhD.

Our Chapter is focused on achieving equality in global health leadership in our region through the key tenets of building momentum, enabling environments, and sustaining change in keeping with WGH’s aims. Through the integration of more women into global health leadership positions, we can disrupt the status quo and create positive change internationally. More locally our Chapter examines the challenges faced in global health careers and work-life integration, especially in the context of academia, both in the Midwest and at our partner sites globally.

We are involved with WGH’s COVID 50/50 program aimed at protecting women, who make up 70% of the world’s health workforce, from being disproportionately affected by COVID and to ensure women have a place at the table when discussing healthcare solutions. This program also works to help women get compensated for their healthcare work while taking gender into consideration more when responding to outbreaks.

 

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Key Accomplishments

In 2020 the COVID-19: Scientific Advances and its Impact on Women’s Health Symposium featured a panel of internationally-recognized speakers on the front line of basic science and global health who will discuss cutting-edge research into COVID-19 pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels, gender differences in COVID-19 pathogenesis, current therapies and how COVID-19 has impacted the health of women in our local and global communities.

The 3rd Annual Virtual Women in Global Health – Midwest Chapter Meeting was a region-wide event that brought together faculty, students, and leaders from across the Midwest and beyond. The theme of the meeting also addressed COVID-19 and women. Speakers from various backgrounds joined to share their experiences, and an opportunity for participants to reflect in small groups.

The Meet and Greet with Dr. Roopa Dhatt, founder of and Executive Director of WGH-Global, a passionate advocate for gender equality in global health and a leading voice in the movement to correct the gender imbalance in global health leadership was an excellent event. Dr Dhatt presented the COVID 50/50 initiative to attendees and shared her thoughts on women in the health and social care workforce. She also joined a meet and greet with students after her talk.

 

Our Leadership

  • Caline Mattar, MD, Co-Founder
  • Jacaranda van Rheenen, PhD, Co-Founder
  • Chandani Desai, Project Coordinator
  • Jean Kanaparti, Project Coordinator
  • Maya Kovacevic, Advocacy Coordinator
  • Cassandre Krier, Membership & Social Media Coordinator



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