Advancements In Women’s Health – Looking Back at the Last 15 Years
Fifteen years have passed since the University of Michigan Women’s Health Resource Center started helping women by providing credible health information. Dr. Timothy Johnson, M.D., Department Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who had a major role in the creation of both the University of Michigan Women’s Health Program and the University of Michigan Women’s Health Resource Center, commemorated the milestone with a talk at a celebration luncheon on February 10 and shared some of his thoughts about advancements in women’s health during the last fifteen years.
Timothy Johnson, M.D. Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Research Professor, Center for Human Growth and Development; Professor, Women's Studies; Arthur F. Thurnau Professor; Bates Professor of the Diseases of Women and Children, says that, “More and more people are appreciating gender differences in women’s health…healthcare is becoming more personal.” Based on a woman’s specific health factors she can receive treatment that will give her the best results.
Research
Participation of women in research is critical to advancements in women’s health. Johnson says that women are more likely than men to participate when they are offered opportunities for clinical research. The University of Michigan has had a big role in offering more research opportunities, not just to women but also to underrepresented ethnic groups.
Research has also furthered the personalization of medicine. Discoveries like the University of Michigan Cancer Center researchers identifying specific genes linked to breast cancer have also impacted the course of treatment.
Technology
It is no surprise that technology has had a major impact on health care. The University of Michigan Health System has been a leader in laparoscopic surgery. Johnson says that laparoscopic surgery has helped reduce the length of hospitalization after surgery and resulted in fewer complications.
Infertility
The University of Michigan has also been a leader in treating infertility. Researchers adapted a microfluidic technique that was originally an engineering technique. UMHS researchers use a microscopic chip divided into two channels to separate viable, healthy sperm from dead and immature sperm, maximizing the potential chances of fertilizing an egg. Another advancement is egg vitrification which involves freezing eggs before women undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatment. This gives women a chance at preserving their fertility.
Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment
New 3D and 4D ultrasounds are allowing earlier diagnosis of fetal abnormalities. There have also been exciting advancements in fetal treatment, including surgeries before the baby is born or the EXIT (Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment) procedure which is a highly modified Cesarean delivery. The goal is to partially deliver the baby, but maintain placental support to be able to perform surgery before the baby is completely delivered. This allows life saving surgery that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Excellent Care
All of the advancements are exciting, but Johnson is extremely passionate about providing excellent health care to women on a day to day basis. He says, “We have a responsibility to take care of women throughout their lifespan….The health system is focused on setting up really high quality women’s health clinics.”
The Future
The University of Michigan is also impacting women’s health by training the next generation of medical professionals. Johnson says, “The most exciting thing we can do is provide a health system that is an example of high quality and innovative care that our students can take from here. That is the defining mission of what we do.”
Two opportunities in the near future will advance women’s health care. Women will benefit from the new Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital which will open in 2012. In the near future the North Campus Research Complex will house researchers involved in reproductive science, biomedical engineering, family planning, and basic science. No doubt their successes will be celebrated at the 30th anniversary of the women’s health resource center.
