Foundation - Letter from the Chairman


Letter From the Chairman

The practice of obstetrics and gynecology used to be associated with images of delivering beautiful, healthy babies to tearful young parents.

The nineties' reality is quite different. We are now helping women in their forties to successfully complete a first pregnancy, while counseling younger women about the dangers of AIDS. We deal with issues that are as timely as abortion and as age-old as cancer. We are at the forefront of women's health, often serving as "primary care physician" to many patients.

In the 1980s, realizing that reproductive medicine was one of the rapidly changing fields at the forefront of women's health, the Berlex Foundation was formed. Our awards and scientific development programs are designed to aid and encourage reproductive health physicians and scientists during different phases of their careers.

The Scholar Award in Basic Science Research enables young investigators to continue work on promising research in reproductive medicine, while the Scholar Award in Clinical Research is designed for young academicians who wish to pursue areas of study dealing with diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in obstetrics and gynecology.

Our Faculty Development Award helps initiate residents and junior faculty members into the study of epidemiology and clinical trial design, and teaches them the analytic skills necessary to both publish and critically read peer-reviewed journal articles. The Reproductive Scientist Development Program supports senior investigators performing research in cell and molecular biology as it applies to reproductive medicine.

And finally, as part of our mission to reward excellence in the field of reproductive medicine, the C.D. Christian Lectureship honors unique scientific achievement and offers a forum for broad dissemination of information.

We at the Berlex Foundation feel that we are responding not only to the nineties' realities, but expanding into the next century with programs that train and encourage obstetricians and gynecologists to successfully fulfill all the roles demanded by the new challenges: oncologist, fertility specialist, family planning expert, epidemiologist, researcher, geriatrician, geneticist, counselor, nutritionist, and so many more.

And yes, we still deliver babies!

William Droegemueller, MD
Chairman, Berlex Foundation Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees

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