New Fund Supports Women’s Health Education at UH
Wulf Utian, MD, PhD, DSc (Med) and his wife, Moira, arrived in Cleveland from South Africa in 1976 and quickly fell in love with the city. A leading innovator in reproductive endocrinology, Dr. Utian was also quick to notice that women were struggling to access healthcare.
“Only young women were attending our health clinics,” he said. “Women at midlife and beyond need care, but especially when underprivileged, they have so much happening in their lives. They take care of everyone but themselves.”
Community leaders suggested that Dr. Utian engage this hard-to-reach population in their social hubs – the city’s churches. Equipped with a projector and slides, he pitched the importance of women’s health to Cleveland’s congregations on Sunday mornings and during weeknight meetings.
The commitment entailed many late nights and early mornings for the couple. “I was always very busy throughout my career, but I had an anchor in Moira,” said Dr. Utian, who served UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital for decades, including as Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and founded The North American Menopause Society. “I could not have achieved what I did without her.”
Nearly 50 years later, the Utians’ commitment to women’s health has never wavered. They recently established the Wulf and Moira Utian Women’s Health Education Fund emphasizing midlife women’s health. Their new gift expands on the Wulf Utian Award for Excellence in Learning and Skills, supporting continuing education and research for OB/GYN residents and caregivers.
“I learned early in my career that we stand on each other’s shoulders,” said Dr. Utian. “You have to help the next generation: educate, teach and nurture them, and develop leadership in them,” added Moira. “We are very proud to start this fund at UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital and support its decades-long tradition of excellence.”
“Dr. Utian is a legend in our field and we are incredibly honored to have his and Moira’s ongoing support,” said Stephanie Teal, MD, MPH, UH Obstetrician/Gynecologist-in-Chief and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “Through this fund, we will uphold their vision to improve women’s midlife health through education and research.”
The Utians hope others who believe in the importance of women’s health will join them in building this fund. “Together, we can make this even more meaningful,” they said.
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