Championing Women's Healthcare and Access to Healthcare Information

29 February 2024
Championing Women's Healthcare and Access to Healthcare Information

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on and around March 8, 2024, we emphasize key missions that encompass:

- Empowering women to assume leadership and decision-making roles in both business and science.
- Helping women and girls make informed decisions about their health.
- Recruiting and developing female talent and fostering inclusive workplace environments.

We take great pride in acknowledging and celebrating the accomplishments of women scientists through awards and by highlighting success stories. As inspirational figures, female scientists are paving the way for the next generation of women aspiring to pursue careers in engineering, life sciences, computing, and various other STEM fields.

Dr. Alessandra Pasut, Winner of MDPI's "Biology 2023 Young Investigator Award", said, "I consider myself lucky because I work with incredibly talented women who inspire me every day." Dr. Rhea Longley, Winner of the "Pathogens 2023 Young Investigator Award", noted, "It’s really important to find a supportive and enabling environment in which to do your science, it would have a big impact on you as a person, and on your scientific outputs."

Open access publishing in particular allows early-career women researchers to share their work more widely, potentially attracting mentorship opportunities and collaborations. This support is crucial for career development and advancement.

Fostering Inclusion through Tailored Research

Advocating for gender-inclusive research ensures that clinical trials and studies include diverse populations. This includes creating a deeper understanding of gender-specific responses within clinical trials. Personalized medicine improves healthcare by acknowledging individual variations, including gender, to optimize treatments and address distinct health needs.

Moreover, scientific publishers that adhere to open data standards contribute to generating knowledge that is not only more applicable but also more beneficial to diverse populations. This commitment to transparency fosters a more comprehensive understanding of unique health needs and medical interventions across genders, ultimately enhancing the quality of healthcare for everyone.

Open Knowledge for Augmented Impact in Society

Providing better access to information on women’s health is key. Open access allows women, both researchers and non-researchers, to access information relevant to their fields of interest without financial constraints, fostering a more informed and empowered community.

Unrestricted access enables women to seek and consult a diverse range of health-related resources. From understanding preventive measures to accessing details about medical treatments and self-care practices, women can make choices rooted in knowledge, fostering a sense of agency over personal healthcare decisions. Ultimately, free access to research findings is instrumental in equipping women with the knowledge they need to prioritize their health, leading to better-informed choices and improved overall well-being.

Sustainable development is pursued across all fields of research and in practice, including agriculture and medicine. Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) aims to see the full participation of and equal opportunities for women. Research is key to achieving gender parity, as well as in promoting reforms in agriculture that see women gaining access to ownership and control over land. Health research is also key to empowering women to take control of their health. These topics are all relevant to the achievement of SDG 5.

Inspire Inclusion – in Science and in Society

As an employer MDPI is creating opportunities for female managers to excel in their roles. We are setting up targeted training and development programs that focus on building skills and competencies, ensuring that all employees have equal access to growth opportunities.

Our colleagues enthusiastically rally behind the International Women's Day call to 'Inspire Inclusion!' The heart-hands in the collage above symbolize our appreciation for the achievements of women researchers and the recognition of the trailblazers who have courageously made a mark in societies of the past and present.