Over the last ten years, medical research has overwhelmingly supported the criticality of incorporating sex and gender specific information into medical practice, not only for gynecological and reproductive issues, but for determining such previously sex-neutral treatments such as which antidepressant or painkiller to prescribe or which angina treatment or heart attack intervention to order. Researchers at prestigious institutions including MIT and Harvard now believe that sex differences are not only hormone related, but also are carried genetically in every cell of the body. As a result, the discipline of women’s health is taking a giant step forward. While it used to concern itself with diseases and conditions that affect women’s reproductive systems, the field is now examining how all diseases, conditions and treatments may affect men and women differently. Women’s Health Services, Santa Fe’s CCOE, is at the vanguard of putting this new knowledge to use in medical practice.

All CCOE’s are dedicated to advancing women’s health care. Having one in your community means that you have access to:

• a sex & gender evidence based medical practice
• peer mentoring groups, life coaching and leadership workshops, integrated primary/behavioral health
• public seminars, conferences, health fairs and screenings
• the benefits of a residency training in women’s health for health care professionals, including in-services and conferences women’s health research

Women’s Health Services, in particular, is dedicated to providing a culturally competent, caring environment and staff, trained in women-centered health care, integrating complementary and alternative medicine and partnering with community organizations and with women themselves, to ensure the highest quality health care. Women’s Health Services operates in compliance with the American College of Women’s Health Physicians’ guiding principals, which are:

• Diversity: The recognition and value of diversity is key to the development of progressive models of medical education, research, patient care and organizational development.
• Respectful and therapeutic use of power: The respectful use of power is “the capacity to produce a positive and mutually empowering change”.
• Complexity: Health is a function of the interactions among biological, cultural, environmental, ethnic, familial, genetic, legal, occupational, physiological, social, spiritual factors…and, sometimes, chance.
• Activism: Many of the health problems of girls and women are influenced by the broader political and economic contexts of their lives.
• Eclectic healing practices: Healing takes many forms.
• Women-centered: Women’s health is a distinct body of biomedical, psychological and sociological knowledge and skills based on the study of girls’ and women’s experiences.
• Individual and organizational well-being: Individual and collective success occurs best in the context of care, mutuality and respectful connection.

For more information on the Department of Health and Human Services CCOE and CoE programs, please visit www.4women.gov.

Community Partners

Women’s Health Services collaborates with the following community organizations to bring superior health care to New Mexico Women:

• Santa Fe Community College: Leadership development for women through the Women in Transition Program
• The Santa Fe County Maternal & Child Health Planning Council: Public education and outreach
• Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: Public education and outreach; Leadership development for women
• New Mexico Women’s Foundation: Leadership development for women; Assistance with sustainability
• St. Vincent Hospital: Community hospital serving the norhtern New Mexico region.
• Northern New Mexico Family practice Residency Program: Clinical training within the context of the community in wich residents live.

Other Women's Health Resources