September 29, 2023 World Federation of Hemophilia Women and Girls with Bleeding Disorders Global Summit
“It’s a woman thing…or is it?”: Overcoming Barriers
Speakers:
- Baiba Ziemele, Chairwoman of the Board, Latvia Hemophilia Society, Riga, Latvia
- Susan Cutter, Social Worker, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
- Christina Vösl, Patient Representative, Austria
- Meila Roy, Clinical Psychologist, Southern Haemophilia Network, Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Uplands House, Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital, England, United Kingdom
- Donna Coffin, Director – Research & Education, World Federation of Hemophilia, Montreal, Canada
Summary:
In this session, medical professionals from the bleeding disorders community discussed the tangible effect of gender-based bias on interactions between women with bleeding disorders and the medical community. Then, a social worker and psychologist highlighted a variety of strategies to maintain good mental health and build relationships with specialists despite ideological differences. Splitting into breakout rooms, patient representatives shared their personal experiences as women with bleeding disorders and medical professionals shared connections and alternative solutions to set ideas of the care pipeline. Final reflections focused on universal communication techniques and maintaining good mental health in the bleeding disorders community.
Response: Red Ink
- Working to destigmatize and defeat the bias around women and girls with bleeding disorders, thereby decreasing the number of difficult and hostile interactions with medical professionals, is a key step to increasing the frequency of good mental health in the bleeding disorders community.
- Red Ink is committed to destigmatizing menstrual health and raising awareness around the valid, unique experiences of women and girls with bleeding disorders.
Red Ink 