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WOMEN IN
MEDICINE

Advancing

Women’s Health

in Medical School

By Kathryn Markham and Summer Crawford

T motes engagement throughout Bexar County cervical cancer, and held meetings with UIW-
he Women’s Health Organization
The Women’s Health Organization pro-
SOM faculty physicians to discuss the impor-
(WHO) at the University of the In-
carnate Word School of Osteopathic to provide services to women and children in
Medicine (UIWSOM) helps promote the need. We work with organizations across the tance of quality of care as it relates to female
patients. Other examples include teaching our
importance of women’s health through many city of San Antonio to sort and package dona- medical students about proper timing of pre-
facets. At the core of our organization, this in- tions for women of all ages in the community. ventative examinations including breast exam-
cludes education, service and advocacy within The Women’s Health Organization coordi- inations, and the importance of adequate
our school and the San Antonio community. nates regular donation drives to gather hygiene access to menstrual hygiene products.
We help other medical students interested in products, food items and other items for local We cultivate knowledge, compassion and
serving women in the local community find shelters. We prioritize establishing monthly dedication to serving local women. Our events
opportunities to further their personal edu- volunteer opportunities for members of our or- bring recognition to preventative medicine
cation by providing various seminars and ganization to continue to demonstrate our practices for physicians within the commu-
talks. By hosting meetings with UIWSOM commitment to improving the welfare of nity, as well as highlight how we can incorpo-
resident physicians, faculty physicians and women within the community. We are grateful rate preventative practices into our treatment
other physicians from the community, we as- to have continued volunteer and service oppor- plans for our future patients. The Women’s
pire to raise both awareness and interest in a tunities that have aided local women during Health Organization helps provide the tools
broad scope of topics and issues at the fore- the global COVID-19 pandemic. We strive to necessary for our future colleagues to be suc-
front of women’s health. create long-lasting positive change for these cessful in caring for women of all ages, back-
The Women’s Health Organization also women that will persist for years to come. grounds and education levels. Through our
serves to encourage other student doctors to In addition to organizing local volunteer organization, we hope to create a culture of
explore careers in women’s health. For exam- and service opportunities, we also promote service and outreach for women’s health at UI-
ple, we previously hosted specialty speaker women’s health by arranging events on cam- WSOM and within Bexar County.
panels to shed light upon differing career pus and by using our social media accounts to
paths in women’s health, such as Obstetrics & spread awareness to a larger population of Kathryn Markham is a second-
Gynecology, Urogynecology, Family Practice people. These events help educate future year osteopathic medical student at
& Obstetrics (FM-OB) and Reproductive En- physicians on pertinent women’s health issues, the University of the Incarnate Word
docrinology. These events allow for raising with a special emphasis on those pertaining to School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is the secre-
questions, vital discussion and enhancement women in San Antonio. This education will tary of the Women’s Health Organization.
of education and professional communication provide UIWSOM’s future physicians with
skills for UIWSOM students. We hope to the foundations needed to care for women in Summer Crawford is a second-year
partner with other organizations at our med- their future practices and throughout San An- osteopathic medical student at the
ical school to host future events that raise tonio. We have hosted events on the impor- University of the Incarnate Word
awareness for women’s health issues that arise tance of pap-smears, created educational flyers School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is the treas-
in other medical specialties. to raise awareness on topics such as breast and urer of the Women’s Health Organization.

26 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • November 2021