June 5, 2008

VCU Institute for Women’s Health recognized by General Assembly

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By Cassie Williams
VCU Communications and Public Relations

Front Row from left: Jennifer McClellan, Virginia House of Delegates 71st District; Susan Kornstein, M.D., executive director of the Institute for Women’s Health and professor in the Department of Psychiatry; Sheldon Retchin, M.D., vice president for Health Sciences. Middle Row: Wendy Klein, M.D., chair of Women’s Health Conference, associate professor emeritus of medicine of obstetrics and gynecology. Back Row: Judith Collins, chair of Professional Advisory Board, professor emeritus of nursing and medicine; Francis Macrina, Ph.D., vice president for research.
Front Row from left: Jennifer McClellan, Virginia House of Delegates 71st District; Susan Kornstein, M.D., executive director of the Institute for Women’s Health and professor in the Department of Psychiatry; Sheldon Retchin, M.D., vice president for Health Sciences. Middle Row: Wendy Klein, M.D., chair of Women’s Health Conference, associate professor emeritus of medicine of obstetrics and gynecology. Back Row: Judith Collins, chair of Professional Advisory Board, professor emeritus of nursing and medicine; Francis Macrina, Ph.D., vice president for research.

The MCV Foundation hosted a reception recently to honor the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women’s Health in recognition of House Joint Resolution No. 78.

The resolution commends the institute on its continuing commitment to provide quality health care for women in Virginia and for its mission to improve the health of women through clinical care, research, education, community outreach and leadership development.

Del. Jennifer McClellan, (D-71st), presented a copy of the resolution to Susan Kornstein, M.D., executive director of the institute, as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation for the organization’s many outstanding accomplishments.

“Women’s issues are of vital importance to the state of Virginia, and your work is appreciated and needed,” said McClellan, who addressed the leadership of the institute on behalf of the General Assembly.

The Women’s Health Center at Stony Point is a nationally recognized, multidisciplinary, “one-stop shopping” health care facility for women. In 2003, the institute was named a National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Centers of Excellence serve as models for the nation in providing innovative, comprehensive, multidisciplinary and integrated health care systems for women across the life span. VCU is one of just 20 in the United States.

The institute has numerous community partners, many of whom were present at the celebration. One recent focus of research for the institute is community-based projects that address pressing community needs in women’s and girls’ health, with topics ranging from infant mortality to breast and cervical cancer screening, depression and domestic violence.

The institute also established and hosts an Annual Women’s Health Conference that educates and trains physicians and other health care providers on women’s health and gender-based medicine. This year’s conference, held in March, was attended by 600 health care providers from 32 states.

House Joint Resolution No. 78, “Commending Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women’s Health,” was agreed to by the House of Delegates on Jan. 11 and agreed to by the Senate on Jan. 17 this year.

Along with Kornstein, speakers at the reception included Bill Kotti, Ph.D., president of the MCV Foundation, who welcomed guests, and Sheldon Retchin, M.D., CEO of the VCU Health System and vice president for VCU Health Sciences, who praised the institute for its local, national and international recognition.

“We are delighted to receive this honor, and we greatly appreciate the support of the General Assembly,” said Kornstein.

For more information, visit www.womenshealth.vcu.edu.