Officials Discuss Women's Health During Philly Forum
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Health professionals and elected officials gathered in Center City Philadelphia recently for a forum on the state of women's health.
"Every week, depressing," says Kathryn Boockvar.
She is executive director of Lifecycle WomanCare, which convened the forum in hopes of finding public policy solutions to women's health issues.
Drexel's school of public health's former Dean Marla Gold said disparities in the system show such an approach is needed:
"We say in public health that a person's zip code is more important in determining their health than their genetic code. This is key in designing programs that work."
Gold was among the panelists urging attendees to get more active in lobbying for policies, such as family leave, that might improve women's health.
Maternity nurse Saumya Ayyagari took the message to heart.
"I think it was encouraging," she says.