Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) is thrilled to announce Kedra Wallace, PhD, of the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), will be recognized as a 2026 Women’s Health Visionary Awardee for her notable contributions to making women’s health mainstream, during the SWHR 2026 Annual Awards Gala. This year’s event will bring together influential leaders from health care, research, and policy to celebrate achievements, advancements, and innovations in women’s health.
Additional honorees at this year’s Gala will include Jenelle Krishnamoorthy, PhD, industry leader at Merck (also known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), and Alex Taylor, co-founder of Perelel. Read more about these two awardees in the first press release here.
Dr. Wallace will be honored for her contributions to research that aim to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women and her work in uterine fibroids. Dr. Wallace is also being recognized for her roles in SWHR’s original uterine fibroids and endometriosis working groups, which have informed the development of core SWHR resources in each of these spaces.
Dr. Wallace is a tenured Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology (primary appointment) and of Obstetrics and Gynecology (secondary appointment) at UMMC in Jackson, Miss. She currently serves within the School of Medicine and has held significant academic leadership roles, including Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs in the School of Population Health and Program Director of the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation Graduate Program. Dr. Wallace holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, Master of Science degrees in pharmacology and toxicology, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in neuroscience. She subsequently completed postdoctoral training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UMMC. Her research focuses on the pathophysiology of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets) Syndrome, as well as uterine fibroids and maternal cardiovascular health. She has made substantial contributions to understanding immune mechanisms, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and long-term maternal and offspring outcomes associated with hypertensive pregnancies. Dr. Wallace has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals. Nationally, Dr. Wallace contributes to the scientific community through service roles with organizations such as the American Physiological Society, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The Annual Awards Gala will be held on April 16, 2026, at the Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown.
Sponsorships and tickets for the premier social event of the spring are still available. Information can be found here. Funds raised from the event will support SWHR’s science, policy, and educational initiatives. For additional information about the Gala, please contact Development Director Julie Miller at julie[at]swhr.org.
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About SWHR: The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) is a national nonprofit and thought leader dedicated to advancing women’s health through science, policy, and education while promoting research on sex differences to optimize women’s health. Founded in 1990 by a group of physicians, medical researchers, and health advocates, SWHR is making women’s health mainstream by addressing unmet needs and research gaps in women’s health. Thanks to SWHR’s efforts, women are now routinely included in most major medical research studies, and more scientists are considering sex as a biological variable in their research. Visit www.swhr.org for more information.