The Women’s Brain Foundation and Medscape Education Launch Learning Center on Sex and Gender in Brain Health
The Women’s Brain Foundation (WBF), a leader in integrating sex- and gender-based research in healthcare since 2017, has partnered with Medscape Education, a prominent medical education provider, to launch a new learning center dedicated to exploring sex and gender differences in brain and mental health care. This initiative builds on previous WBF forums that engaged various stakeholders—including policymakers, academia, and patient advocacy groups—about the significance of these differences in healthcare.
As part of the “Medscape Essentials” initiative, this learning center demonstrates Medscape’s commitment to addressing unmet needs in medical education, with one-third of its continuing education activities self-funded last year. The WBF Forum aims to enhance healthcare professionals’ understanding of how sex and gender influence brain health, spotlighting critical disparities in neurologic and psychiatric disorders that have been historically overlooked.
“This initiative is vital,” emphasized Antonella Santucionne Chadha, MD, PhD, founder and pro bono CEO of the WBF. “Healthcare professionals must recognize the intrinsic biases affecting the prevalence and progression of diseases in women and men, as well as differences in treatment responses. Collaborating with Medscape helps us translate this evidence into clinical practice more effectively.”
Neurologic disorders are a significant global health issue, impacting about one in three people worldwide. They are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death globally, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study. Sex and gender are crucial factors influencing health outcomes. While biological sex affects disease prevalence and treatment efficacy, gender roles and identities also play significant roles in health behaviors.
“This Medscape Essentials program will help unveil historical disparities in neuroscience research, where male-centric studies have often omitted sex as a variable,” stated S. Christy Rohani-Montez, PhD, Director of Clinical Strategy at Medscape Education. “By addressing these educational gaps, we align with our commitment to health equity and aim to be the most trusted resource for healthcare professionals throughout their careers.”
With a global membership of over 13 million healthcare professionals, Medscape Education is well-positioned to lead efforts in recognizing and addressing sex and gender differences in healthcare. This initiative represents a significant step toward more inclusive and effective patient care and is part of a broader effort to close gender gaps in healthcare.
For further details, visit Women’s Brain Foundation and Medscape.
About Medscape Education
Medscape Education (medscape.org) offers a wealth of continuing education resources, with over 30 specialty-focused platforms providing thousands of free accredited CME and CE courses for healthcare professionals.
About WebMD Health Corp.
WebMD, a subsidiary of Internet Brands, is at the forefront of the digital health revolution, enhancing healthcare experiences through online platforms, mobile solutions, and health publications.
About WBF
The Women’s Brain Foundation (WBF) is a Swiss non-profit organization dedicated to applying sex- and gender-based scientific evidence to advance precision medicine, particularly in brain health research and innovation.
References:
- Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network. Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021). Seattle: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME); 2024.
- Mamlouk GM, et al. Sex bias in neuroscience research. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2020;57:100835.
- Moores G, et al. Sex differences in neurology: a scoping review. BMJ Open. 2023;13:e071200.
