Until recently, medical understanding of women's health stemmed largely from research on men--their anatomy, disease progressions and drug interactions. But women are not "little men." Biological differences between the genders range from organ anatomy (e.g., women have proportionally smaller hearts) to disease manifestation (e.g., boys with attention deficit disorder, ADD, tend to act out more than girls with the same disorder). Thus, there is an ongoing need for medical treatments that are based on a gender-specific understanding of human health.

Despite healthcare gains for women throughout the twentieth century, it was not until the late 1980s that the government recognized women's health issues as important. Even now, the "bikini view" of women's health, which focuses on breast cancer and reproductive concerns, dominates much of the research and literature. But differences between men and women extend to every system in the body, not just the reproductive organs.

In this seminar, Marianne J. Legato, M.D., (above) challenges practitioners and patients to be conscious of male-centered models of normal human function, by describing how gender-specific medicine can improve medical care for both men and women. She explains how medical studies show great differences between the genders in cancer rates, heart problems and intestinal disorders, and discusses how variations in the brain chemistries of men and women reveal different susceptibilities to ailments. Legato also explores three important changes in women's health that came about because of World War II. This seminar provides an accessible and interactive discussion of health and gender issues and will impact those concerned with improving the quality of medical practice and care for all people.