"This scientific forum," says Dr. Vivian W. Pinn, NIH Associate Director for Research on Women's Health and Director of the Office of Research on Women's Health, "will celebrate a decade of accomplishments resulting from collaborative and committed efforts to improve the health of women through biomedical research, and envision the future contributions of research to the improvement of women's health."

Special guests to welcome participants will include The Honorable Barbara Mikulski, U.S. Senate; The Honorable Constance Morella, U.S. House of Representatives; and Mary Beth Donahue, Chief-of-Staff, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The keynote address, "Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer Susceptibility-Are We Ready?," will be presented by Dr. Barbara Weber, University of Pennsylvania, in the First Annual ORWH Lectureship in Women's Health Research. This will follow an opening address by Dr. Richard Klausner, Director of the National Cancer Institute, who will discuss progress and challenges in women's cancer.

Following provocative presentations by many national leaders in women's health research, care and education, a panel - including Robert Bazell of NBC News and Former Surgeon General Dr. Antonia Novello - will close the afternoon with comments on future challenges for women's health research and care.

Monday evening, ORWH will recognize the current Principal Deputy Director of NIH, current and former members of Congress and others, including former NIH Director Dr. Bernadine Healy, with awards for being Visionaries for Women's Health Research. These presentations will be part of a dinner at the Ronald Reagan Building.

"It's an honor to be receiving this award from the National Institutes of Health," said Senator Mikulski. "I am proud to be the Senator for NIH and am proud that we have this world class institution in Maryland. NIH has come a long way in the last ten years and I am pleased to see their progress in including women in their valuable research efforts."

ORWH was established 10 years ago in response to the concerns of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues about the need for research on women and the lack of consistency in implementing the NIH policy to include women in clinical research. The office was legislatively mandated by the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993.

ORWH (a) advises the NIH Director and staff on matters relating to research on women's health; (b) strengthens and enhances research related to diseases, disorders, and conditions that affect women; (c) ensures that research conducted and supported by NIH adequately addresses issues regarding women's health; (d) ensures that women are appropriately represented in biomedical and biobehavioral research studies supported by NIH; (e) develops opportunities for and supports recruitment, retention, re-entry, and advancement of women in biomedical careers; and (f) supports research on women's health issues. ORWH works in partnership with the NIH institutes and centers to ensure that women's health research is part of the scientific framework at NIH and throughout the scientific community.

The scientific symposium is free and open to the public. Attached is the agenda for the symposium. For information on attending the presentation of Visionary for Women's Health Research awards Monday evening, contact Ellyn Pollack at 301-402-1770.

Scientific Symposium
Masur Auditorium, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

8:45 a.m.	Welcoming Remarks Vivian W. Pinn, M.D., Office of Research on Women's Health, NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein, M.D., National Institutes of Health The Honorable Constance A. Morella, U.S. House of Representatives Mary Beth Donahue, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
9:15 a.m.	Progress and Challenges in Women's Cancer Richard Klausner, M.D., National Cancer Institute
9:45-11:30 a.m.	Science Panel I Women's Health Research: Lessons from Evolution Daniel D. Federman, M.D., Harvard Medical School Hormones Across the Life Span: A Decade of Progress and Forecasts for the Future Nancy Reame, M.S.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., University of Michigan Health System Prevention of Chronic Diseases: Osteoporosis as a Model Ethel Siris, M.D., Columbia University Coronary Artery Disease: No Longer the Province of Men Marianne J. Legato, M.D., F.A.C.P., Columbia University
11:30 a.m.	Lunch and Scientific Poster Session. Visitor Information Center, Clinical Center
1- 1:15 p.m..	Greetings by and Acceptance of Visionary for Women's Health Research Award. The Honorable Barbara Mikulski, U.S. Senate
1:15-1:55 p.m..	Keynote Address First Annual ORWH Lectureship in Women's Health Research Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer Susceptibility–Are We Ready? Barbara Weber, M.D., University of Pennsylvania
1:55 - 3:10 p.m.	Science Panel II New Paradigms for Reproductive Health Louella Klein, M.D., FACOG, American College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists Global Burden of Mental Illness in Women Steven E. Hyman, M.D., National Institute of Mental Health
3:10 - 4:30 p.m.	Science Panel III: Respondents Future Challenges for Women's Health Research & Care in the 21st Century Public Health Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H. New York State Department of Health Professional Practice and Education Roger Bulger, M.D. Association of Academic Health Centers Studying Minority Women's Health Shiriki Kumanyika, Ph.D., M.P.H. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Changing Role of Women's Health in Television News Robert Bazell NBC News
4:30 - 4:45 p.m.	Closing Remarks/Advocacy Response Cynthia E. Pearson National Women's Health Network Julia Scott, R.N. National Black Women's Health Project Vivian W. Pinn, M.D. Director, ORWH