Today we face a critical and vast knowledge gap in the areas of health, wellness, and disease progression for women, because, historically, women's health was considered synonymous with reproductive health with little consideration given to the full arc of a woman's life - at all ages and stages.
Friends of Prentice is committed to closing that gap. Our organization works in partnership with Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women's Hospital to fund innovative and leading-edge research and clinical initiatives that benefit the lives of women and infants in our community and across the globe.
On behalf of Friends of Prentice, welcome. My story with Friends of Prentice began thirteen years ago to express my appreciation for what the Prentice nurses and doctors did for my twin boys who passed away in the NICU. Being a part of an organization dedicated to funding innovative research that benefits the lives of women and infants was critical to how I was going to honor my sons. Since joining this board, I have continued to be inspired by FOP’s mission – to fund leading edge research and clinical initiatives that benefit the lives of women across the full arc of her life in our community and across the globe.
As we look ahead to the future of women’s health, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. The opportunities to advance the healthcare provided to women remain virtually limitless, while funding for this critical research is not. If you share our enthusiasm for funding the future of women’s health, I encourage you to join us! Learn more about our work, consider volunteering your time and talents and pledge your support by making a donation.
Friends of Prentice has raised over $23M since its inception in 1983 and awarded grants to more than 80 researchers and clinical programs. Many of these FOP grant recipients have gone on to expand their work with later stage funding from prestigious organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Friends of Prentice grant recipients are on the front lines of medical advancements, developing compelling data and accelerating research breakthroughs in areas that span the full spectrum of a woman's life.
Behind every innovative idea and medical breakthrough are people: investigators and collaborators working tirelessly behind the scenes to improve the future for countless women and infants.
Your donations help Friends of Prentice fund new, highly-inventive ideas and research that meet a clear need in advancing women's health.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Black Maternal Health Week raises awareness about the health crisis many Black mothers face.
Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A long history of systemic racism and bias is largely to blame.
Studies show Black women are often dismissed or ignored when suffering from severe injuries or pregnancy-related complications.
The issue is not only gaining national attention, but also local. JB Pritzker called for $23 million to advance birth equity in Illinois.
This comes as Chicago makes plans to build a new birthing center on the city's South Side.
Dr. LaTasha Nelson from Northwestern Medical Group visited ABC 7 to talk more about the efforts to solve this dire issue.
Read more here.
(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Local health care providers have committed to raising awareness about maternal health disparities during the start of Black Maternal Health Week on Thursday.
The weeklong campaign aims to raise awareness that Black women in America are dying from childbirth at a disproportionately higher rate than white women.
“Not only are Black women more likely to die, we know that these mortalities, a lot of them are preventable,” Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor at Northwestern Medicine Janelle Bolden said. “So the big question is, why? What is the disparity there and what can we do to address it or fix it?”
Bolden said tNorthwestern is hosting several events throughout the week, including an open house at Prentice Women's Hospital, in an effort to address that health disparity.
“We're going to include tours of the labor and postpartum floors,” Bolden said. “We'll have different physicians and midwives discuss common pregnancy myths. We'll do a meet and greet with as many of the Northwestern and affiliated OB and GYN clinicians.”
The goal is to educate patients about Black maternal health, she said, and to help them foster relationships with healthcare providers.
The week was originally designated by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, a network of Black women-led reproductive justice organizations.
Throughout the week, Northwestern’s OB-GYN department will also host a donation drive.
Read more here.