National Council on Women in Medicine Records

In 1977, Lila Wallis of Cornell University Medical College and other women physicians from New York City, New York State, New Jersey, and Connecticut as well as laywomen, health professionals, and patients began planning a regional conference on women in medicine, which was held in March 1979. The program was co-sponsored by Cornell University Medical College, Rockefeller University, Women's Medical Association of New York and the New York State and New Jersey branches of the American Medical Women's Association. As stated in their case statement, the objectives of the conference was to "identify the needs of women physicians, to achieve equal representation in decision making positions in medical institutions, and to improve medical education in the field of women's health. The Second Regional Conference was held in April 1981. That same year, the group organized as the Regional Council for Women in Medicine. The organization continued to plan two more regional conferences in 1983 and 1986. Two additional women's health symposiums were held in 1989 and 1998. They also organized other educational programs such as the Teaching Associates Program (on breast and pelvic exams) in conjunction with Cornell University Medical College and Woman's Health Days at Cornell University Medical College and elsewhere in New York City, and Mother's and Daughters Race Against Teen Smoking. In addition, they engage in research on women's health issues. In 1986, the organization changed its name to National Council on Women in Medicine. In 1986, the Coalition of Offices of Women in Medicine was established as a committee under the National Council on Women in Medicine. (The coalition consisted of staff of several medical schools, which had established women in medicine offices.) In 1992, they changed their name to National Council on Women's Health. In 2001, the organization began a community outreach program for underprivelaged seniors. In 2004, they established a Girls Get Healthy program for obese teenage girls.