When it comes to medical care for U.S. women, it’s healthier to be a man. That’s because, historically, the “standard” patient in medical research has been a 170-pound white male. That standard has shaped medical care in ways that has often overlooked or disserved women, whose bodies can manifest illness or respond to medication very differently than a man’s. Currently, although women represent slightly more than 50% of the U.S. population, less than 5% of research spending is aimed at women’s health.
Fortunately, awareness of the gender gap in healthcare is growing. Yet if women start experiencing more effective attention and more successful outcomes, it won’t be just because U.S. healthcare has had a change of heart. It’ll be because women start doing their homework, challenging misinformation, and asking doctors clearly for what they need.
That was the message from a panel of celebrated Chicago women physicians at a forum on women’s health called “Bridging the Gender Health Gap: Essential Insights for Enhanced Self-Care.” The event was a first-time collaboration of five Chicago organizations dedicated to advancing women’s leadership: the International Women’s Forum (IWF)-Chicago, The Chicago Network, C200, Lincoln Road Enterprises, and AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education). Nearly 100 women leaders attended the educational event on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, hosted by Lincoln Road Enterprises at Lighthouse 303, the special event space connected to its Loop offices.
“I'm excited to see so many people for our first collaborative event, which will be one of many,” said Maria Doughty, President and CEO of the Chicago Network, in kicking off the evening. “Tonight’s topic is not only personally important to me; I think it’s totally relevant and critical for us in the current environment.”
“It’s amazing to be in a room of women who care about each other,” added Dara Munson, President of IWF-Chicago. “We want to talk about the systemic and historic challenges to women’s healthcare,” she noted, “but we also want to talk about very practical things we need to know to protect our own health and to help those around us.”
A key area of concern is breast cancer, rates of which have been rising by about 1% a year from 2012 to 2021. In kicking off the first panel discussion, former IWF-Chicago President Joyce Winnecke noted that 316,900 U.S. women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year and 42,000 will die. To talk about changes in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, the panel featured Dr. Shika Jain, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois Cancer Center and 2024 Illinois Physician of the Year; and Olufunmilayo Olopade. M.D., Walter J. Palmer Distinguished Professor of Medicine and founding director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health with University of Chicago Medicine.
Both physicians emphasized the need for women to sidestep the vast amounts of misinformation online and instead partner with their physician to get a frank assessment of individual risk. “We’re getting better at screening and catching cancer early,” said Dr. Jain. “So, it’s really important to talk to your doctor.”
The evening’s second panel focused on menopause. A topic that’s historically been overlooked or misunderstood, menopause is now attracting significant interest and research investment as its health risks are being better understood. Moderator for this panel was Tara Montgomery, Executive Vice President and Executive Producer with Harpo Productions, who produced the 2025 Oprah Winfrey special “The Menopause Revolution.” Montgomery led a discussion on “Peri-Menopause and Menopause Trends and Treatments” featuring Dr. Yvonne Collins, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Gynecological Oncologist with the Cook County Health Hospital System, and Dr. Lauren Streicher, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
“We now know that hot flashes are not innocent things,” said Dr. Streicher. “They’re associated with cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of women. They’re associated with osteoporosis. They’re associated with changes in brain function. The idea that women should just tough it out is simply not appropriate anymore.”
As host for the event, Ann Drake emphasized the importance and power of women coming together across organizations to share resources, information, and networks as well as producing events like the healthcare forum. “We really want to ensure that women are at the forefront of advancing the world we live in,” said Drake. “Making things happen is needed now more than ever.”
Photo Captions
IMAGE 1 - Panel 2: Perimenopause and Menopause Trends and Treatments (from left to right): Moderator Tara Montgomery, Executive Vice President, Executive Producer, Harpo Productions; Dr. Lauren Streicher, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Senior Research Fellow, The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University; and Dr. Yvonne Collins, Chief Medical Officer & Gynecologic Oncologist, CountyCare, Cook County Health Hospital System
IMAGE 2 - Organization Leaders and Event Hosts (from left to right): Dara Munson, President, International Women's Forum-Chicago; Ann Drake, President and Founder, Lincoln Road Enterprises and Chair and President, Women's Leadership Center at Williams Bay; and Maria Doughty, CEO, The Chicago Network. Not Pictured: Myla Skinner, CEO, C200 and Michelle Dilley, CEO, AWESOME.
IMAGE 3 - Panel 1: Increased Incidence of Cancer Among Women, Particularly Breast (from left to right): Moderator Joycelyn Winnecke, Principal, JWinnecke Advisors LLC; Dr. Shikah Jain, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Illinois Cancer Center, Board-Certified Hematologist and Oncologist, Founder and board Chair, Women in Medicine; and Dr. Olu(Funmi)layo Olopade, Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Founding Director, Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health, University of Chicago Medicine