Webinars & Videos
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormone disorder occurring during a woman’s reproductive years that causes an excess of the hormone androgen and often, irregular or prolonged periods. PCOS affects 8-13% of women of reproductive age worldwide and nearly 5 million women in the United States. However, nearly 70% of women with PCOS remain undiagnosed. Although it is usually discovered only after women experience highly irregular periods or unsuccessful attempts at pregnancy, this chronic condition impacts more than just ovulation. Women with PCOS have an increased risk of developing serious health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, anxiety, depression, and stroke. It is imperative that women living with PCOS are supported by an interdisciplinary care team that works together to effectively manage their uterine health and overall well-being.
SWHR hosted an educational webinar to discuss how women and their health care providers can work together to improve diagnosis and treatment of PCOS across the lifespan.
View the original event page here: Promoting Shared Decision-Making in PCOS Management.
Dr. Ali Chappell is a Registered Dietitian, holding a BS in Nutrition and Metabolism from Texas A&M University, as well as an MS and PhD in Nutrition and Metabolism, specializing in reproductive endocrinology, from Texas Tech University. She completed a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, focusing on nutrition and women’s reproductive health.
Living with PCOS herself, Ali has dedicated her career to studying nutrition, insulin resistance, and PCOS. In 2022, she received a grant from the National Science Foundation to launch Lilli Health, a nutrition education and wellness company for women with insulin resistance and PCOS. Through this venture, she translates her research from the lab into practical support for individuals with PCOS, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application.
Ali lives with her husband, Johnny, and their two small children on the Texas coast. She enjoys spending time with her family, being on the water, and drinking red wine, preferably all at the same time.
Anuja Dokras, MD, MHCI, PhD is the Executive Director of the Women’s Health Center for Clinical Innovation (WHCCI) and the Founder’s Professor of Women’s Health in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Penn Medicine. She is also the Director of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Center, a multi-disciplinary center providing care to adolescents and people with PCOS. Dr. Dokras brings to this role her extensive research experience in translational medicine and clinical trials. Dr. Dokras is an internationally recognized NIH- funded researcher, global patient advocate and educator. She is the Executive Director of the international Androgen Excess (AE)-PCOS society. She is on the senior editorial team of Endocrine Reviews and Fertility & Sterility and is co-editor of the textbook Yen and Jaffe’s Reproductive Endocrinology. She received her training in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive endocrinology at Yale New Haven Hospital, a Master’s in health care innovation (MHCI) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oxford.
Support for this educational program has been provided by Abbott Laboratories. SWHR maintains independence and editorial control over program development, content, and work products.