2025 Edition
"If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair"
Shirley Chisholm
The Editor's Take: Emerging Threats
Welcome back AMWA UTD - I hope you all had a restful winter break! I am excited for you all to read what your writers have been working on! This month, we bring you articles on the implications of the new Trump Administrations on women’s healthcare, advances in research with the Vagina-on-a-chip, winter skin care, and we shine a spotlight on Cecile Richards.
As many of you are likely aware, the state of public and global health within the United States has drastically changed in the last couple of weeks. Among the highlights (or lowlights) are the withdrawal of the United States from the WHO (which luckily should not take effect for a year per the WHO’s standing agreement with the United States); freezes in NIH grant payments; and pauses in all external communications by federal health agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which crucially includes the CDC, FDA, and NIH.
This pause in health communication between the CDC and both the US public and the WHO is coinciding with a rise in the avian influenza virus, more colloquially known as bird flu, across the United States and is raising alarms. Here’s what you need to know about bird flu and what precautions you can take.
What is avian influenza?
As the name suggests, avian influenza is a virus that widely infects wild birds. The H5N1 strain was first discovered in China in 1996, and has been running rampant in global bird populations since 2021, killing hundreds of millions of birds.
Cross-species transmission
While H5N1 primarily affects birds, mutations have allowed for the virus to infect other animals with infections even being detected in mammals such as seals and bears. In March 2024, it was discovered that H5N1 readily infected cattle, with cases in at least 16 herds across 6 states, which raised concerns that H5N1 is becoming more adept at infecting mammals and raising risks for zoonotic transmission to humans and ultimately human-to-human transmission.
Current situation
The H5N1 outbreak in cattle has spread to over 900 herds across 16 states and has also been found to infect cats, skunks, and poultry.
As of January 27th, 67 confirmed human cases and 1 death have been reported across the United States since 2024. A majority of these cases have been traced to exposures via cattle. The public health threat is still low, as luckily no human-to-human transmission has been reported. However, infections within cattle is a stepping stone for the virus to evolve to spread in humans, which would then create the risk for a pandemic. For now, continued surveillance and communication will be key in monitoring the situation.
Precautions
Avoid exposure to sick or dead birds and other animals
Do not consume raw milk
Do not consume raw meat or feed it to pets
Get your seasonal flu vaccine. The flu vaccine will not prevent infection but can reduce the risk of coinfection.
Wear a mask and stay home if you feel sick.
As always, if you would like to submit your own piece of writing, have ideas, or questions, email me at Zoe.Du@utdallas.edu
-Zoe
The Impact of Trump’s Presidency on Women’s Healthcare
By: Shannon-Renee Odoi
The presidency of Donald Trump marked a period of significant political and policy shifts in the United States, and healthcare for women was no exception. Throughout his first term in office, Trump implemented policies and initiatives that significantly affected various aspects of women’s health, from reproductive rights to healthcare access. As we analyze these effects, it’s crucial to examine both the immediate consequences and long-term implications for women’s healthcare in America.
1. Reproductive Rights and Access to Abortion
One of the most contentious areas of healthcare under Trump’s administration was reproductive rights. The former president consistently advocated for policies aimed at limiting access to abortion. His stance was reflected in his appointments to the Supreme Court, most notably the confirmation of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, who shifted the Court’s balance to a more conservative ideology.
The most significant development was the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. This landmark decision, which had previously legalized abortion nationwide, was repealed by the conservative-majority Supreme Court. As a result, the decision on abortion rights was left to individual states, leading a patchwork of laws across the country, with some states enacting near-total bans and others safeguarding access to abortion services. For women, this meant that access to abortion care was no longer guaranteed across the entire nation, disproportionately impacting low-income women and women of color, who are more likely to live in states with restrictive abortion laws.
Trump also implemented the “gag rule” (Mexico City Policy) that prohibited foreign aid to organizations that provide or promote abortions. This affected international family planning programs, restricting global access to reproductive healthcare services.
2. Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Women’s Health Coverage
Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA) had a direct impact on women’s health coverage. While he was not successful in fully repealing the ACA, he was able to weaken key provisions that were vital to women’s healthcare.
Elimination of the Individual Mandate: One of the first actions Trump took was to eliminate the individual mandate penalty through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The mandate had originally required individuals to have health insurance or pay a penalty, a provision that helped drive up enrollment in ACA health plans. The removal of this mandate led to higher premiums and fewer people enrolling, disproportionately affecting women, who often faced higher health insurance premiums due to gender-based pricing before the ACA.
Loss of Essential Health Benefits: Trump’s administration also worked to weaken ACA regulations, particularly by allowing short-term health plans that could exclude essential health benefits, such as maternity care, contraception, and mental health services. This left many women with fewer options for comprehensive healthcare.
Access to Contraception: Under Trump, there were attempts to roll back provisions that required employers to provide contraception coverage under ACA. He expanded exemptions for businesses and non-profits with religious or moral objections to contraception. This policy change undermined women’s access to affordable birth control, which had previously been guaranteed through the ACA, making it more difficult for women to manage their reproductive health.
3. Maternal Health
Maternal health was another key area of concern during Trump’s time in office. The United States has already faced a crisis in maternal mortality rates, with women of color experiencing disproportionately high rates of complications and deaths related to childbirth. While Trump did not significantly address these disparities, his administration did promote some initiatives aimed at improving maternal health.
The Momnibus Act, a package of proposals that focused on improving maternal health outcomes, including funding for research into maternal health disparities, enhanced data collection on maternal deaths, and expanded access to care for underserved populations, was introduced under the Trump administration. However, critics argued that these efforts were insufficient in addressing the systemic issues and disparities in maternal healthcare.
Trump’s policies on healthcare were often seen as a step backward for women’s rights, particularly regarding reproductive health and healthcare equity. While he made some positive strides, particularly through research and funding initiatives, his overall impact on women’s healthcare was one of restriction rather than expansion.
4. Impact on Health Disparities
Trump’s healthcare policies often exacerbated existing health disparities, particularly for women of color, low-income women, and immigrant women. The rollback of protections under the ACA, combined with efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, meant that many women who relied on public healthcare programs had less access to preventive care, screenings, and reproductive services. This compounded inequalities in access to healthcare, contributing to worse health outcomes for marginalized groups.
Trump’s immigration policies, such as family separations and restrictions on asylum seekers, also affected immigrant women’s access to healthcare. The fear of deportation and the lack of clear healthcare options deterred many women from seeking necessary medical care, further marginalizing vulnerable populations.
5. Mental Health and Wellness
Mental health was another area where Trump’s policies had a significant impact on women. Under his administration, mental health services were often underfunded, and initiatives aimed at addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by women were limited. The opioid crisis, which has had a devastating effect on women, particularly in rural and underserved areas, also continued to escalate, but Trump’s approach focused more on punitive measures rather than comprehensive support services for women dealing with substance use disorders.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s presidency marked a period of significant challenges and setbacks for women’s healthcare. His policies often aimed at restricting access to reproductive healthcare, reducing the scope of the Affordable Care Act, and exacerbating healthcare disparities for marginalized women. While some positive initiatives were put forward, particularly related to maternal health and opioid addiction, the overall legacy of Trump’s impact on women’s healthcare left many feeling more vulnerable.
As healthcare policy continues to evolve, the effects of Trump’s first presidency and of his current term will likely be felt for years to come, with the fight for equitable access to comprehensive healthcare for all women remaining a central concern in the American healthcare system.
The Vagina-on-a-Chip: Transforming Women’s Health Research
By: Riya Ramani
Introduction
Organ-on-a-chip technology has revolutionized biomedical research, offering microfluidic devices that replicate the structure and function of human organs. Among these innovations, the vagina-on-a-chip stands out as a critical advancement in women’s health research. By providing a dynamic, lab-based model of the human vaginal environment, this device enables groundbreaking studies on the vaginal microbiome, infections, and treatments.
What Is the Vagina-on-a-Chip?
The vagina-on-a-chip is a sophisticated microfluidic platform developed to mimic the complex vaginal environment. It uses living human vaginal epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts to recreate tissue structure and function. The device replicates physiological conditions, such as low oxygen levels (hypoxia), which are characteristic of the vaginal lumen. Additionally, it supports microbial colonization, allowing researchers to introduce and study the interactions between human tissues and the vaginal microbiome (Gilbert et al., 2022).
This model is designed to mimic the dynamic nature of the vaginal environment, incorporating mechanical cues like fluid flow and providing a more accurate representation of vaginal physiology than traditional in vitro models or animal studies (Wyss Institute, 2022). By creating a controlled, human-specific environment, the vagina-on-a-chip enables researchers to examine both healthy and pathological conditions in unprecedented detail.
Why Is It Important?
Historically, research into vaginal health has been underfunded and often overlooked. This gap has left many conditions, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), vaginal atrophy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), poorly understood. The vagina-on-a-chip addresses this gap by providing a platform for:
Understanding the Vaginal MicrobiomeThe vaginal microbiome, dominated by Lactobacillus species, plays a crucial role in maintaining vaginal health by producing lactic acid to sustain an acidic pH and suppress inflammation. Disruptions to this microbiome are associated with conditions like BV and increased susceptibility to STIs. By using the vagina-on-a-chip, researchers can observe how different microbial communities interact with epithelial cells and immune responses, offering insights into disease mechanisms (Gilbert et al., 2022).
Advancing Drug DevelopmentThe lack of reliable preclinical models has hindered the development of effective treatments for vaginal conditions. Animal models often fail to replicate human vaginal physiology, while static lab cultures lack the complexity of living tissues. The vagina-on-a-chip provides a human-relevant platform for testing drug safety and efficacy, accelerating the pipeline for new therapies (Wyss Institute, 2022).
Studying Hormonal and Environmental ImpactsThe device can also be used to study the effects of hormonal changes, such as those during menopause, on vaginal tissues. This research could lead to targeted treatments for conditions like vaginal dryness and atrophy, which affect many women but are often stigmatized or inadequately addressed (Harvard Medical School, 2022).
Implications for Women’s Health
The vagina-on-a-chip has significant implications for improving women’s healthcare. By offering a better understanding of vaginal physiology, it can lead to:
More Effective Therapies: The chip enables precise testing of new medications, including probiotics and targeted antibiotics for BV.
Improved Preventative Strategies: Insights into the microbiome’s role in disease could inform preventative measures, such as microbiome-based therapies or personalized hygiene products.
Enhanced Understanding of STIs: Researchers can study how pathogens like Gardnerella vaginalis or HIV interact with vaginal tissues, paving the way for better prevention and treatment strategies.
Conclusion
The vagina-on-a-chip is a groundbreaking advancement in organ-on-a-chip technology, providing a much-needed platform for studying the vaginal environment. It bridges critical gaps in women’s health research, offering insights into the microbiome, infections, and treatment efficacy. As the technology develops, its implications for personalized medicine and global health could transform care for millions of women worldwide.
Winter Skin Care
Sahasra Guvvala
As the frigid temperatures of winter start to settle in, especially in Dallas, many of us fail to recognize the effects of these frost-bitten changes. Whether it’s sleeping earlier, needing to put more layers on, or even drier skin conditions, there are many symptoms that people, particularly women, need to be mindful of. The colder temperatures of winter can be particularly harsh on the skin, with cold air, low humidity, and indoor heating stripping it of essential moisture. By adopting a winter-specific approach, you can protect your skin and combat the dryness, irritation, and sensitivity that usually arise during this cold season.
Here's a guide to essential winter skincare tips that will help you maintain hydration, prevent damage, and enhance your overall skin health.
Gentle Cleansing (via Vogue)
Start with a gentle, hydrating cleanser to remove impurities without stripping natural oils. Opt for cream-based cleansers that maintain the skin's moisture barrier. For instance, La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser is recommended for its nourishing properties.
Deep Moisturization (via New York Post)
Switch to a richer moisturizer during winter months. Creams containing hyaluronic acid and ceramides effectively retain moisture and repair the skin barrier. Drunk Elephant's Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer is praised for rejuvenating dry skin.
Sun Protection
Despite reduced sunlight, UV rays can still damage the skin. Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily prevents premature aging and protects against harmful rays.
Humidify Indoor Air (via L'oreal Paris)
Indoor heating can lower humidity levels, leading to dry skin. Using a humidifier adds moisture back into the environment, helping the skin retain hydration.
Hydration from Within (via Haul of Fame)
Maintaining adequate water intake is crucial for skin hydration. Aim for about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids daily, including water from beverages and food.
Lip and Eye Care (via Healthshots)
The delicate skin of the lips and under-eye areas requires special attention. Regularly apply lip balm and eye cream to keep these areas moisturized and prevent chapping.
Taking care of your skin during winter is essential to protect it from the harsh effects of cold weather and indoor heating. You can maintain healthy and glowing skin all season by incorporating hydrating cleansers, rich moisturizers, and regular sunscreen into your routine, along with tools like humidifiers and proper hydration. Additionally, paying attention to delicate areas like the lips and under-eyes ensures that no part of your skincare is overlooked. Hopefully, this step-by-step routine can help you enjoy radiant, nourished skin even in the coldest conditions!
Spotlight: Cecile Richards
By: Shannon-Renee Odoi and Sahaana Anand
Cecile Richards was a renowned activist, leader, and advocate for social justice and women's rights. Best known for her tenure as the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America from 2006 to 2018, Richards dedicated her career to empowering marginalized communities and advancing access to healthcare, particularly reproductive health services. A dynamic public speaker and organizer, she was a trailblazer in mobilizing grassroots efforts and elevating conversations about equity and advocacy on a national scale. Beyond her work at Planned Parenthood, Richards co-founded Supermajority, a political organization focused on building women’s collective power, and was a leading voice in the fight for equality.
During her time at Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards transformed the organization into a powerful force for reproductive rights and healthcare access. Under her leadership, Planned Parenthood expanded its health services, providing millions of people with affordable care, including cancer screenings, contraception, and sexually transmitted infection testing. Richards also faced and navigated significant political challenges, including attempts to defund the organization and ongoing debates surrounding abortion rights. Through it all, she remained a steadfast advocate for patients and the right to choose, frequently testifying before Congress and speaking out in the media. Her ability to communicate with compassion and clarity earned her widespread respect and made Planned Parenthood a symbol of resilience and advocacy during a time of intense scrutiny.
In all her adventures and fights, Cecile was inspired by a variety of people, including the former Governor of Texas Ann Richards, her mother. Confident with the knowledge that she had the support of another strong woman behind her, Cecile approached her career and advocacy with grace and strength, and her leadership capabilities grew exponentially, though you could also say that it was in her blood all along. Despite its turbulent beginnings, Planned Parenthood would not be able to be the organization it is today without Cecile and all the support she had from her mother.
The examples and legacy set by Cecile Richards is one to think about whenever we think about how we go about our own dreams, passions, and goals. Whether that be related to the subjects Cecile advocated for, or a completely different dream of your own, knowing that using your own soft skills to build something that can impact people in the thousands and millions of numbers is astonishing and inspiring. Being a part of an organization that serves others, and even goes against the odds if that means you are helping those in need and what you believe in, means you are in a community of a purpose that is bigger than yourself.
Sources
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (updated 2025, January 27). H5 bird flu: Current situation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html
Fox, Emily. “Changing Skincare for Winter.” Vogue, Condé Nast, https://www.vogue.com/article/changing-skincare-for-winter. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
Gilbert, N. M., O’Brien, V. P., & Lewis, A. L. (2022). Microbiome-vaginal interactions and health outcomes. Microbiome Journal. Retrieved from https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-022-01400-1
Green, P., & Tumin, R. (2025, January 20). Cecile Richards, a dynamic leader of Planned Parenthood, dies at 67. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/cecile-richards-dead-planned-parenthood.html
Harvard Medical School. (2022). Cervix chip to accelerate research in women’s health. Retrieved from https://hms.harvard.edu/news/cervix-chip-accelerate-research-womens-health
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Kozlov, M. (2025). Will bird flu spark a human pandemic? Scientists say the risk is rising. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-00245-6
Park, A. (2025, January 22). What leaving the WHO means for the U.S and the world. Time. https://time.com/7208937/us-world-health-organization-trump-withdrawal/
Samantaroy, S. (2025, January 24). Trump administration Halts Health Communications, Freezes Research Grants. Health Policy Watch. https://healthpolicy-watch.news/trump-administration-halts-health-communications-freezes-research-grants/
Skinner, A. (2025, January 25). Cecile Richards: A Personal Reflection on Her Legacy. Planned Parenthood. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-southern-new-england/education/blog/cecile-richards-a-personal-reflection-on-her-legacy
Swiderski, N. “Best Products for Dry Skin.” New York Post, 2025, https://nypost.com/article/best-products-for-dry-skin. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
“Tips for Skincare in Winter.” Haul of Fame, https://hauloffame.co/tips-for-skincare-in-winter. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
“Winter Skin Care Hacks.” L’Oréal Paris, L’Oréal, https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/skin-care/skin-care-essentials/winter-skin-care-hacks. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. (2022). The vagina chip: A new preclinical model for research on vaginal epithelium-microbiome interactions. Retrieved from https://wyss.harvard.edu/media-post/the-vagina-chip-a-new-preclinical-model-for-research-on-vaginal-epithelium-microbiome-interactions
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