SWHR® Interdisciplinary Network on Urological Health in Women

2015-Present

Mission Statement

To raise awareness of the impact of bladder health on women’s well-being across the lifespan. Since unhealthy bladders disproportionately affect women and girls the Network aims to:

Review current information and identify knowledge gaps and make recommendations to inform research, policy, and education.
Raise awareness through advocacy among agencies, patient advocacy groups and medical societies.
Promote education among health care providers, educators, and the general public.

“It is critical that we advance the field of women’s health in urology. While often thought of as a “quality of life” issue in the past, current leaders in our field recognize that urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms are linked directly to cardiac disease, diabetes, depression, and musculoskeletal problems.”

– Elizabeth R. Mueller, MD, MSME. FACS, Professor, Departments of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Urology, & SWHR Urology Network Chair

Current Members

Elizabeth Mueller, MD, MSME, Loyola University (Network Chair)
Margot Damaser, PhD, Cleveland Clinic (Network Co-Chair)
Cindy Amundsen, MD, Duke University
Toby Chai, MD, Yale University
Clare Close, MD, Close Pediatric Urology
Michael DiSanto, PhD, Rowan University
Matthew Fraser, PhD, Duke University

Stephanie Kielb, MD, Northwestern University
George Kuchel, MD, University of Connecticut
Mary Palmer, PhD, RN, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Candace Parker-Autry, MD, Wake Forest University
Alan Wolfe, PhD, Loyola University

Program Director

Rebecca Nebel, PhD

Peer-reviewed Publications and Reviews

Liliana Losada et al., “Expert Panel Recommendations on Lower Urinary Tract Health of Women across their Lifespan.” Journal of Women’s Health 25, no. 11(2016): 1086-1096. PMID: 27285829
Mueller et al., “Letter to the Editor: Women’s Urological Health as a Priority to the Woman Well Visit.” Women’s Health Issues 26, no. 4 (2016): 476-477. PMID: 27448751

Presentations and Symposia

“Urological Health in Women Across the Lifespan.” Presented at the 23^rd Women’s Health Congress, Washington, DC, April 14-17, 2015. Authors: Monica P. Mallampalli and Christine L. Carter.
“Urological Health in Women Across the Lifespan“: An Interdisciplinary Research Network.” Presented at the 2^nd International Congress on Underactive Bladder – CURE UAB, Denver, CO, December 3-4, 2015. Authors: Liliana Losada and Monica P. Mallampalli.
“Raising Awareness of Bladder Health in our Schools.” Presented at the 48^th Annual Conference of National Association of School Nurses (NASN), Indianapolis, IN, June 30 – July 3, 2016. Authors: Clare Close and Elizabeth R. Mueller.
“Raising Awareness of Bladder Health in our Schools: Engaging our School Nurses.” Webinar. Presented at the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium meeting, November 2, 2016. Presenters: Clare Close and Elizabeth R. Mueller.
“Urological Health in Women Across the Lifespan: An Interdisciplinary Research Network.” Poster. Presented at the 2017 Innovating for Continence Conference, Chicago, IL, April 20-21, 2017. Authors: Rebecca Nebel and Monica Mallampalli.