HHS Highlights Women’s Health in a New Way

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services held its first-ever National Conference on Women’s Health March 11-13, bringing together experts from across the world. 

“We are always looking to work together, both nationally and internationally, to enhance women’s health,” Dr. Dorothy Fink, HHS deputy assistant secretary for women’s health, told The Daily Signal. 

At the event, researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, advocates and lawmakers gathered to discuss women’s health issues that have not been highlighted in the past. 

Fink said the conference will “absolutely” become an annual event at HHS. 

Conference speakers included FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, National Institutes of Health director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright. 

Even second lady Usha Vance made a surprise appearance on the “Environmental Exposures and Chronic Disease in Women” panel. 

According to Fink, the conference covered “everything from environmental health, to heart disease, immune conditions, to infertility, to menopause.” 

“At HHS, women’s health is important, and Secretary Kennedy has led the department to really focus on preventing and reversing chronic illness,” she said.

“I think a lot of incredible themes that came out of this conference are, how can we decrease time to diagnosis and ensure that women can live with the best health,” Fink added. 

Fink noted that one big takeaway from the event was the conversation surrounding menopause and the benefits that some women experience with hormone replacement therapy. 

“We are now empowering women to know their options at perimenopause and menopause, so that they can make the best decisions around hormone replacement therapy,” Fink said. 

Fink praised the FDA for being “brave” and challenging the status quo on hormone replacement therapy. 

“We’re really excited to have those conversations, and those conversations couldn’t happen if the [Food and Drug Administration] hadn’t been so brave to look at the data and say, ‘Hey … we have more information,’” Fink said. “‘We want to make sure that our black box warning is reflecting the most up-to-date gold standard science.’”

The FDA in February approved drug labeling changes to six menopausal hormone replacement therapy products. 

“At HHS, we are committed to women’s health every year, and we are focused on collaborating with all of the people that we engaged with during this meeting, both on stage and off, to design systems that truly focus on women’s needs across the lifespan,” Fink said. 

HHS’ attention to women’s health will cause women to benefit from “earlier diagnoses, more effective treatments and care that reflects the full complexity of her health,” Fink said.