Studying women’s mental health is crucial because biological, hormonal and social factors uniquely influence women’s mental well-being. Women experience higher rates of anxiety, depression and conditions like postpartum depression, which are often underdiagnosed or undertreated. Gender-based disparities, societal pressures and trauma also contribute to mental health challenges. Understanding these factors allows for better-targeted treatments, policies and support systems, ultimately improving quality of life and healthcare outcomes for women.

Faculty:

Barbara Chubak, MD: sexual dysfunction, regenerative medicine, cosmetic genital surgery, bioethics
Aileen Gariepy, MD: unintended pregnancy, abortion care, miscarriage care, reproductive justice
Alison Hermann, MD: perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, menopause and mental health, reproductive psychiatry education
Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao: wearable technology, on-skin interfaces, electronic textiles, therapeutic haptics
Gunisha Kaur: global health, refugee health, forcibly displaced populations
Amy Kuceyeski: women’s brain health, neuroimaging, AI
Alex Kwan: postpartum depression, mental health, antidepressant, drug development
Roberta Marongiu: menopause, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease
Beth McGinty: health policy, child welfare policy
Jane Mendle: mental health, puberty, adolescence
Kelly Musick: social context of childbearing, gendered costs of parenting
Lauren M. Osborne, MD: perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Lisa Placanica: intellectual property, commercial partnerships, new venture creation
Kristen Pleil: female-specific mechanisms underlying mental illnesses and alcohol/substance use disorders
Diana Punko: post-partum psychosis, substance use disorders in pregnancy
Yi Athena Ren: ovarian biology, reproductive endocrinology, reproductive biotechnology
Sunita Sah: gender differences in medical care, decision-making, social and interpersonal factors
Madeline Sterling: cardiovascular disease, caregiving, workforce and long-term care
Yiye Zhang: clinical decision support, risk prediction, built environment