Summary & Highlights
This 2024 Women’s Health Conference hosted by the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health (GloW) has embraced a holistic life-course approach, featuring over 100 global experts discussing critical topics such as cancer prevention, cardiovascular health, nutrition, and longevity.
This conference underscored the transformative importance of prevention, holistic care, and innovative solutions tailored to meet the diverse health needs of women across different life stages worldwide. Now, please review the academic journey with us online once more.
Keynote Speakers
The conference commenced with an impactful keynote address by Prof Michelle A. Williams from Harvard University, who emphasized the critical need for sustained investment in women’s health to drive social, economic, and public health transformations. Her address set the stage for an inspiring series of discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions throughout the conference.
Prof Michelle A. Williams
Harvard University
Our Welcome Session was opened by Prof Matthieu Resche-Rigon (Université Paris Cité) and Prof Yap Seng Chong (National University of Singapore).
Prof Yap Seng Chong & Prof Matthieu Resche-Rigon
National University of Singapore , Université Paris Cité
Followed by introductory remarks from Prof Vassilis Tsatsaris (Université Paris Cité) and Prof Cuilin Zhang (National University of Singapore), who highlighted the vision and goals of the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health (GloW).
Prof Cuilin Zhang & Prof Vassilis Tsatsaris
National University of Singapore , Université Paris Cité
The conference also celebrated the launch of the GloW-UPCité partnership in a special opening ceremony. We were honored by the presence of Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for Health and Minister of State for Communications and Information, who delivered a keynote speech reflecting on the vital role of collaborations in enhancing women’s health initiatives.
Mdm Rahayu Mahzam
Minister of State for Health and Minister of State for Communications and Information
Her Excellency Ms Minh-di Tang followed with a stirring address, further strengthening our shared commitment to advancing health equity. A memorable photo session concluded this meaningful launch. Together, their expertise encompassed topics such as nutrition and lifestyle medicine, aging research, cancer prevention, and the intersections of social determinants and health equity, igniting engaging discussions that resonated throughout the conference and laid a strong foundation for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Ms Minh-di Tang
Ambassador of France to Singapore
The Closing Ceremony was marked by closing remarks and reflections from Prof Matthieu Resche-Rigon, Prof Vassilis Tsatsaris, and Prof Cuilin Zhang, underscoring the continued commitment to improving women’s health outcomes and fostering transformative partnerships.
Highlights
Ms Mckenna Smet
Elite Wellness Performance and Recovery
Mr Greg Drescher
The Culinary Institute of America
Star Ginger Restaurants
Green Kitchen
Ms Mckenna Smet
Elite Wellness Performance and Recovery
Mr Greg Drescher
The Culinary Institute of America
Star Ginger Restaurants
Green Kitchen
Healthy Lifestyle & Diet Coaching Workshop
The pre-conference workshop, held at the National University of Singapore, provided an engaging and immersive experience for over 100 attendees. This hands-on event focused on promoting practical and sustainable health strategies, featuring:
- Fitness Strategies for All Life Stages led by Ms Mckenna Smet (Elite Wellness Performance and Recovery), emphasizing adaptable and enjoyable exercise routines suitable for diverse body types and ages.
- Family Nutrition Insights presented by Mr Greg Drescher (The Culinary Institute of America), who explored the benefits of plant-forward eating for family health and wellness.
- Asian-Inspired Live Cooking Demonstration with Chef Mai Pham (Star Ginger Restaurants), showcasing nutritious and culturally rich dishes.
- Food Bites Tasting Session: curated by Chef Maximillian Mepham (Green Kitchen), offering attendees the chance to sample innovative, healthy meals.
- Global Cardiovascular Health: Panels examined the unique cardiovascular challenges faced by women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), focusing on innovative care approaches, policy strategies, and the integration of new technologies to improve health outcomes.
- Preventing Female Cancers: This session explored groundbreaking strategies in cancer prevention and care, focusing on breast and cervical cancers. Discussions covered the global impact of vaccination, challenges in oncology access, and innovative solutions aimed at enhancing cancer care for women worldwide.
Additional sessions featured discussions on intergenerational health, birth cohorts, nutrition during pregnancy, and advancements in women’s health technologies, fostering a collaborative exchange of innovative ideas.
Ms Amira Ghouaibi
Head, Global Alliance for Women’s Health, World Economic Forum
Disparities in Women’s Health Session
Panel Discussions and Sessions
The conference hosted a variety of thought-provoking panels and discussions, spotlighting critical aspects of women’s health:
- World Economic Forum – Addressing Disparities in Women’s Health Across Asia: A Holistic Life-Course Perspective: In partnership with the World Economic Forum, this session explored innovative strategies that were employed to tackle women’s health challenges across Asia. Featuring insights from global experts like Prof Michelle Williams and Ms Amira Ghouaibi, the dialogue emphasized the vital role of cross-sector collaboration in improving health outcomes, productivity, and economies across the region.
- Challenges Faced by Women with Cardiovascular Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: In this engaging session, chaired by Prof Alexandre Mebazaa, global experts including Dr Irina Mbanze and Prof Salem Abdessalem delved into the unique challenges faced by women in managing cardiovascular diseases in LMICs. The discussion covered barriers to essential care and innovative solutions that have been proposed to improve health outcomes, offering critical insights into addressing health disparities.
- Preventing Female Cancers: From Understanding Phenotypes to Improving Populational Care: Chaired by Dr Chee Cheng Ean and Prof Melissa L. Bondy, this session focused on innovative cancer prevention strategies. Prof Heather Eliassen shared insights on breast cancer prevention from Harvard University. Dr Paul Albert from the U.S. National Cancer Institute discussed statistical challenges in cancer epidemiology studies. This session provided critical updates on advancing cancer care and prevention.
- Overcoming Challenges in Reproductive Health: This session, chaired by Prof Rong Li from Peking University and Prof Pietro Santulli from Université Paris Cité, tackled pivotal issues in reproductive health. Experts like Prof Gabriel Livera discussed the impact of environmental factors on oocyte quality and women’s fertility. Prof Li shed light on the evolving landscape of PCOS prevalence and changes in its diagnosis and treatment. Prof Charles Chapron emphasized the urgency of rethinking endometriosis diagnosis, while Prof Santulli addressed the management of endometriosis-related infertility, offering groundbreaking insights into overcoming reproductive health challenges.
GloW’s Rising Stars
Dr Queenie Ling-Jun Li
Dr Guoqi Yu
Dr Claire Guivarch
Dr Queenie Ling-Jun Li
Dr Guoqi Yu
Dr Claire Guivarch
Atlas, the Stage for Outstanding Abstracts and Stars session showcased exceptional research from GloW’s emerging talents:
- Dr Queenie Ling-Jun Li: Machine learning models for predicting hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
- Dr Guoqi Yu: Persistent organic pollutants, diet, and gestational diabetes risk.
- Dr Claire Guivarch: Amino acid profiles in pregnancy and fetal health.
These rising stars exemplify the pioneering spirit and dedication to advancing women’s health research at GloW. Their contributions continue to inspire innovation and drive impactful solutions to address critical health challenges.
Thank you & Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank all attendees, speakers, judges, and contributors for making the 2024 Women’s Health Conference a resounding success. Together, we continue to drive transformative health outcomes and promote holistic wellbeing for women across the globe.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our exceptional partners – the conference steering committee, NUSMed event team, MICE Studio, generous sponsors, and dedicated volunteers. Your commitment and efforts were instrumental in creating a memorable and impactful event.
Highlights
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