Past Events

WhY X? SeXY Chromosomes: 7th Annual Basic & Translational Research Symposium on Sex Differences in Genetics

Leading experts presented their research on sex differences in genetics on February 21, 2019 at Li Ka Shing Center, Stanford School of Medicine. Keynote speaker Hunt Willard, PhD of the Geisinger National Precision Health spoke on "A Sex Chromosome View of Human Biology and Medicine: It’s Not Just an Autosomal World Out There". He was joined by UCSF professor Barbara Panning, ASU associate professor Melissa Wilson Sayres, Stanford professor David Miklos,  instructor Valerio Napolitano, and postdoc Amy Braun. For the full program, click here. The symposium was cohosted by WSDM Center and the Department of Genetics. Videos will be posted soon on our WSDM Youtube channel.

Gender Matters: Why Sex in Science Isn't Enough

Janine Clayton, MD, Director of the NIH's Office for Research on Women's Health, was the keynote and spoke on "The Power, Potential, and Promise of Considering Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV)", and guest speaker Hunt Willard, PhD, Professor of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, offered "Sex Differences in Biology and Medicine: the View From the X Chromosome". Drs. Clayton and Willard were joined by Stanford faculty Marcia Stefanick, Mark Cullen, Linda Schiebinger and Gary Darmstadt and a capacity audience for this well received event on October 20, 2017. Click here for the agenda. Videos are available on our WSDM youtube channel.

4th WSDM Seed Grant Workshop

To view slides from the workshop, click on the links: Dr. Stefanick's  introduction, outlining the need for the study of sex differences; Research updates on the study of sex differences from all of the departments in the School of Medicine; "Sex = Biology; Gender = Culture: Sex as a Biological Variable" presentation by Dr. Londa Schiebinger.

7th Annual WSDM Women's Health Forum 2016

On May 14, 2016, WSDM partnered with Stanford Health Matters to host the Health Matters|WSDM Women's Health Forum 2016, which featured experts from the School of Medicine presenting on issues affecting women in cardiology, cancer, dermatology, sleep, and more. Attendance this year was a record high for both. Watch the videos of the WSDM Women's Health Talks. Many of the other Health Matters talks are available on the Health Matters website.

6th Annual Basic & Translational Research Symposium on Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Health and Disease

February 24, 2016 WSDM hosted its 6th Annual Basic & Translational Research Symposium on Sex Differences. The focus was on Cardiovascular Health and Disease, and was very well received by a capacity crowd in LKSC Berg Hall. Experts from cohosts the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and Women's Heart Health at Stanford presented their cutting edge research. Read the Stanford Medicine SCOPE blog on the symposium here. Check out the videos of the presentations on our WSDM YouTube channel.

3rd WSDM Seed Grant Workshop

October 23, 2015 WSDM hosted its third seed grant workshop. The event featured updates from past seed grant award winners. The group identified questions regarding sex/gender and women's health that need more study and facilitated collaborations across disciplines. See the slideshow.

SPECIAL LECTURE Professor Gabe Garcia, MD: "Creating a Welcoming and Respectful Clinical Environment for LGBT patients"

Many LGBT patients are underserved by our healthcare system, often due to unfriendly clinical environments. On August 21, 2015 Professor Garcia, a member of the San Mateo LGBT Commission, shared ideas that San Mateo and Santa Clara County have been discussing and developing to create gender-friendly clinical services that clearly welcome individuals of all sexual orientations.

Articles discussed by Professor Garcia covered issues such as medical students' preparedness and comfort level with providing LGBT care, LGBT-related curriculum in undergraduate medical education, LGBT health disparities, and discrimination faced by sexual and gender minority (SGM) practitioners.

6th Annual Women's Health Forum- Screening and Prevention

May 18, 2015, WSDM and the Stanford Cancer Institute co-sponsored the 6th Annual Women's Health Forum in Li Ka Shing Berg Hall. The forum theme was Screening and Prevention with sessions featuring Stanford experts on cancer screening and prevention, bone health, cardiovascular health, and women's wellness. Watch the video. For a detailed program, click here. The Stanford Medicine Scopeblog profiled the successful event, including the highlights of WSDM Center Director Marcia Stefanick's keynote presentation on physical activity and weight management as key preventive actions for women to take. Read the blog here.

2015 Annual Meeting of the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences

WSDM and Women's Heart Heart at Stanford co-hosted the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) on April 21-23, 2015 at Berg Hall, Li Ka Shing Center. The meeting featured presentations and poster sessions from leading experts in the study of sex differences. Attendance was at full capacity for all three days of the event, with over 200 experts from all over the world. Click here for the detailed flyer.

WSDM and SCI Basic & Translational Research Symposium-Cancer

WSDM and the Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI) co-hosted the Basic & Translational Research Symposium on Sex Differences in Cancer on March 4, 2015 in Li Ka Shing Berg Hall.The event was well received and featured a keynote from Dr. Malcolm Pike of the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as well as presentations from leading Stanford researchers. Read the detailed flyer and agenda. Watch the videos here!

Transgender Health Symposium

Cohosted by WSDM, the Weiland Health Initiative, Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and the Clayman Institute for Gender Research, on November 1, 2014. More than 200 people attended the well-received Symposium, which was designed for health providers as well as for transgender individuals, family members, and allies wanting to learn more about health and medical options. For the detailed program, click here.

2nd WSDM Seed Grant Workshop

WSDM hosted its second Seed Grant Workshop on October 17, 2014.  Representatives from almost every department in the School of Medicine presented their departments' visions and missions to faciliate interdisciplinary collaborations of the study of sex differences. View the slides from the Workshop here.

Rethinking and Redesigning the Future: Honoring Philip A. Pizzo, MD

WSDM and the Stanford Center on Longevity honored former Dean of the School of Medicine Philip Pizzo at a reception on September 18, 2014. Speakers included WSDM Co-Founders and Co-Directors Marcia Stefanick and Lynn Westphal and Professor Laura Carstensen, PhD, Fairleigh Dickinson Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. Click here to read the program.

5th Annual Women's Health Forum: Global Women's Health

It was an afternoon of engaging speakers, panels, and exhibits at WSDM's 5th Annual Women's Health Forum on May 21. Ruth Levine, PhD, Director of the Global Development and Population Program at The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, delivered the keynote "Girls Count: A Global Investment & Action Agenda (Start With a Girl)".

The Forum also included panel host Jesse Draper, creator, writer and producer of the Valley Girl Show.

Check out the videos of the presentations and exhibitors on the WSDM Youtube channel and read the Program Guide here.

Basic & Translational Research Symposium: Sex Differences in Immunology March 10, 2014

Our third Annual Basic & Translational Research Symposium was held on Monday, March 10, 2014 at the Clark Center. The symposium featured leading researchers in immunology and sex differences, including Stanford experts, and was well received. Check out the video on the WSDM Youtube channel! Check out the program here.

Dr. Iris Litt: Trailblazer for Gender in Medical Research Event video

Video from our November event honoring Dr. Iris Litt: Trailblazer for Gender in Medical Research, is now available. To watch the full version video of this event click here. For a shorter, 15 minute version featuring Iris Litt only, click here.

1st WSDM Seed Grant Workshop

The WSDM Seed Grant Workshop was held on September 27, 2013. Representatives from almost every department in the School of Medicine presented how their Department’s vision and mission interfaces or overlaps with the Stanford WSDM Center’s vision and mission. The group identified issues and facilitated collaborations regarding sex/gender and women’s health that need more study. See the slideshow.

Fourth Annual Women’s Health Forum
(Inaugural hosting by the Stanford WSDM Center)
at Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford, CA
May 15, 2013

1:00 PM Welcome: Marcia Stefanick, PhD and Lynn Westphal, MD - Stanford WSDM Center Co-Founders & Co-Directors
1:15 PM Keynote: Susan Love, MD (see http://dslrf.org/actwithlove/)
A Future Without Breast Cancer: Where Are We and What Can We Do
Please choose A, B, or C concurrent sessions.
You may move during the breaks.
2:00 - 3:00 PM A. Breast Cancer
Moderator: Lynn Westphal, MD
Mark Pegram, MD (Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in the Genomic Age
Lindsay Beck (Quality of Life Issues for Cancer Survivors)
Allison Kurian, MD, MSc (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment: Informing Prevention and Treatment Decisions)
B. Sleep, Pain, Headaches
Moderator: Marcia Stefanick, PhD
Rachel Manber, PhD (Sleeping: When and How Much?)
Rob Cowan, MD (Headaches Associated With Sexual Activity)
Beth Darnall, PhD (Less Pain, Fewer Pills: Optimizing the Mind-Body Connection in Chronic Pain)
C. Sexuality & Hormones
Moderator: Mary Jacobson, MD
Leah Millheiser, MD (Improve Your Sexual Function, Improve the Quality of Your Life!
Sophia Yen, MD, MPH (Contraceptive Update: EC, IUDs and No More Periods)
Mary Jacobson, MD (Innovations in Fibroid Treatment)
3:00 - 3:20 PM Break: you may move to another session
3:20 - 4:00 PM A. Cancer Survivorship
Moderator: Marcia Stefanick, PhD
Susan Love (Patient and Doctor’s Experience of Cancer Treatment)
David Spiegel, MD (Stress, Support, and Survivorship)
B. Cardiovascular Health
Women’s Heart Health at Stanford
Patricia Nguyen, MD
Sandra Tsai, MD, MPH
Katharine Sears, MD
(Don’t Miss a Beat: Heart Healthy Behaviors in a Fast-Paced World)
C. Skin Care/Dermatology
Moderator: Lynn Westphal, MD
Susan Swetter, MD (What’s New in Sunscreen and Skin Cancer Prevention)
Sam Most, MD (Facial Rejuvenation in 2013 and Beyond)
4:05 - 4:45 PM A. Breast Cancer Survivors
Moderator: Lynn Westphal, MD
Irene Wapnir, MD (The Changing Role of Surgery in Breast Cancer)
Oxana Palesh, PhD, MPH (Management of Sleep Problems in Cancer)
B. Diet & Weight Control
Moderator: Sun Kim, MD
Christopher Gardner, PhD (Battle of the Weight Loss Diets: Is Anyone Winning (at Losing)?)
Sun Kim, MS, MD (Why is it so Hard to Lose Weight/)
C. Lung & Colorectal Cancer
Moderator: Marcia Stefanick, PhD
Heather Wakelee, MD (Lung Cancer in Women and Never-Smokers: Beyond the Marlboro Man)
Uri Ladabaum, MD (Colorectal Cancer Screening & Prevention)
4:45 - 5:00 PM Performance by Stanford Quartet & Adjourn

Our First Symposium:

Basic & Translational Neuroscience Research Symposium on Sex Differences

Wednesday, March 6, 2013, 12 PM
Li Ka Shing Center

 

 

12 PM SeXX & SeXY: A Dialogue on the Question of the Female Brain & the Male Brain
Louann Brizendine, MD (UCSF) & Daphna Joel, PhD (Tel-Aviv, Israel)
1:30 PM Welcome
Marcia Stefanick, PhD (Stanford) & Lynn Westphal, MD (Stanford)
1:40 PM The Genetics of Social Behavior: Understanding How We Mate, Fight and Parent
Nirao Shah, MD, PhD (UCSF)
2:10 PM Stem Cells and Reprogramming Into the Neural Lineage
Marius Wernig, MD, PhD (Stanford)
2:25 PM Brain Signatures of Behavioral Sex Differences
Russell Fernald, PhD (Stanford)
2:45 PM Panel Discussion
3:00 PM Break
3:20 PM Sex, Brain and Psychopathology
Daphna Joel, PhD (Tel Aviv)
3:50 PM Girls, Boys & Autism
Joachim Hallmayer, MD, Dr Med
Antonio Hardan, MD (Stanford)
4:05 PM Sex Differences in Alzheimer's Disease
Victor Henderson, MD
4:25 PM Revisions to the Twentieth Century View of Sex Determination: Lessons from the Study of Sex Differences in Obesity
Art Arnold, PhD (UCLA)
4:55 PM Panel Discussion
5:15 PM Adjourn

Pre-Symposium Talk
Tuesday, March 5, 2013: 6 - 7:30 PM
Clark Center Auditorium

The Female Brain & the Male Brain
Louann Brizendine, MD