Women’s Health
Women's Healthcare Matters
Did you know that women of childbearing age weren’t included in clinical research until 1993? Decades of under-representation in research participation, clinical leadership, and business development have created structural disparities for women in health and in the health workforce. Women experience unique health challenges across the life course, yet public health systems often overlook how conditions such as pregnancy, perimenopause, and chronic disease intersect with oral health and impact overall health and well-being. Women also make up the majority of the public health and caregiving workforce, but often lack access to capacity-building programs that reduce burnout and prepare them for future leadership experiences. AIDPH focuses on women’s health to explore these intersections and fill critical gaps in research, education, and professional development. Our work builds on efforts to improve care for pregnant veterans and expands into underexamined areas, including perimenopause and menopause, chronic disease management, and leadership development for women across the public health workforce. We aim to generate actionable research, foster inclusive education, and promote policies that advance responsive, whole-person care for women in all life stages.
Key Focus Areas
Perimenopause/Menopause
AIDPH is examining the connections between hormonal shifts, oral health outcomes, and chronic disease risk during this transition to advance more informed, age-inclusive care. We aim to generate research and education that empowers both patients and providers to recognize and respond to these often-overlooked health needs.
Leadership Development
AIDPH is committed to empowering women in public health through leadership development, mentorship, and workforce programming that strengthen confidence, influence, and impact across sectors. By investing in women’s leadership, we aim to foster a more resilient, representative, and responsive public health system.
Pregnancy & Postpartum
AIDPH works to elevate the importance of oral health during pregnancy, particularly among underserved populations such as veterans, by advancing research, policy, and education to support integrated, whole-person care. Our goal is to ensure oral health is recognized as essential to maternal and fetal health across healthcare systems.
Representation in Research
AIDPH advocates for the inclusion of women across research design, analysis, and dissemination to ensure that public health solutions are relevant, responsive, and equitable. We are committed to advancing research that centers women’s experiences and produces actionable insights tailored to their health across the lifespan.
NEW from AIDPH: Advocating for Pregnant Veterans
Among the 9 million veterans getting medical care in the VA, only 24% are eligible for dental care. Pregnant veterans receive additional medical services during pregnancy and post-partum, which currently don’t include dental care. Women are the fastest-growing cohort of veterans who use Department of Veterans Affairs services, with care given annually to approximately 600,000 women, half of whom are of childbearing age. Since 2014, pregnancies in women veterans using VA care have increased by more than 80%. Dental benefits during pregnancy and up to 1 year postpartum can save approximately $1,500 annually per veteran by reducing medical and non-medical costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Women in the Oral Health Workforce
The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated dental staffing shortages, which impact care delivery and ultimately oral health equity. Federal funding programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) were intended to help underserved businesses that experienced revenue shortfalls due to government shutdowns, including those owned by veterans, minority-owned traditional groups, and women. Data analyzed by AIDPH revealed that minority racial and ethnic groups and women received less PPP funding and less loan forgiveness, on average, compared with non-minority groups.