Women's Well-being

Illustration of women

The Rosemary Bowes, PhD, Women’s Well-being Initiative

Rosemary Bowes, PhD, is an assistant clinical professor, departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, in the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS).  Dr. Bowes has given an endowed fund to the Resiliency & Well-being Center (R&W Center) to support women’s well-being, including a recently named Women’s Well-being Champion,  Lara Williams, MD, MSHS`20, FACOG.

Together with the Women’s Well-being Champion, the R&W Center will promote resilience and well-being, emphasizing mental health, amongst the GW medical enterprise—SMHS, GW Medical Faculty Associates, and GW University Hospital— and educate providers on strategies that can be translated to patient care with special focus on issues related to women’s well-being.

Well-being Lectures

The Women’s Well-being Lecture Series

Menopause & Perimenopause: Everything Is Not The Ovaries’ Fault!

  • Date/Time: Friday, October 11, 2024 at 12 p.m. ET
  • Speaker: Lara Williams, MD, MSHS`20, FACOG, IFMCP, FAARM, ABOIM
  • Where: Zoom
  • Register

Cardiovascular Disease in Women

  • Date/Time: Tuesday, November 12, 2024  at 12 p.m. ET
  • Speaker: Icilma V. Fergus, MD, FACC
  • Where: Zoom
  • Register

Supporting Women’s Bone Health

  • Speaker: John Neustadt, ND, author of "Fracture-Proof Your Bones: A Comprehensive Guide to Osteoporosis." 
  • Watch the Video

Complete Nourishment for a Women’s Journey

  • Speaker: Julie Wendt, MS, LDN, CNS, adjunct instructor, Department of Clinical Research & Leadership, GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences, and Viktoriya Karakcheyeva, MD, MS, NCC, LCPC-SP, LCADAS, is the R&W Center's behavioral services director.  
  • Watch the video

Discrepancies and Disparities in Healthcare in Women

  • Speaker: Esther Choo, MD MPH, an emergency physician and health policy researcher in Portland, OR. 
  • Watch the video 

The Power of No

  • Speaker: Lara Williams, MD, MSHS`20, FACOG, IFMCP, FAARM, ABOIM, who is the center's Women’s Well-being Champion and the managing partner of The Oregon Clinic – OBGYN North.
  • Watch the video

The Effect of Cannabis on the Body & Mind: Myths & Facts Relating to Women's Health

  • Speakers: Mikhail Kogan, MD, associate professor of Medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and author of "Medical Marijuana: Dr. Kogan's Evidence-Based Guide to the Health Benefits of Cannabis and CBD," and Viktoriya Karakcheyeva, MD, MS, NCC, LCPC-SP, LCADAS, is the R&W Center's behavioral services director.  
  • Watch the video

The Emotional Impact of Breast Cancer: Coping Strategies & Resource Navigation

  • Speaker: Heather Glubo PhD, director of Behavioral Medicine, at American Institute for Cognitive Therapy
  • Watch the video

Skills to Support Women’s Well-being

An Integrative Perspective on Women's Hormonal Health

Balancing Motherhood in the Face of the Pandemic

The Women's Well-Being Lecture Series is supported by the Rosemary Bowes, PhD, Women's Mental Health Fund.

Well-being Resources
Perinatal Mental Health & Wellness
  • DC Metro Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (Scroll down for resources)
  • GW Department of Psychiatry's Five Trimesters Clinic
    • The Five Trimesters Clinic offers medication management and therapy to support women’s wellness during preconception, pregnancy, and the postpartum period.  Patients have access to psychiatrists with special expertise in advising women about the use of medication during pregnancy or while breast feeding to help with mood and anxiety disorders while pregnant or after birth, and support for fathers and partners. For more information, call (202) 741-2888.
  • Spring Project
    • A group of Washington, D.C. area therapists who provide counseling for postpartum women with negotiable fees.  
  • Allay Foundation
    • A local nonprofit that provides access to mental health care to mothers in financial need – women who are pregnant or have children.
  • National Parent Hotline
  • The Motherhood Center
    • Provides supportive services for new and expecting moms/birthing people, including a range of treatment options for those experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) often referred to as postpartum depression (PPD).
Women's Health Advocacy
Nutrition