Alabama Office of Women's Health Selects Dr. Braxton Lloyd for Steering Committee
r. Kimberly Braxton Lloyd, Pharm.D., Associate Professor and Director of Auburn
University Pharmaceutical Care Center (AUPCC) was recently selected to the Steering Committee for the newly formed Alabama Office of Woman's Health. She is one of a select group of 20 prominent Alabama women in all fields of medicine chosen. This Office, which was formed through a congressional mandate, is part of the Alabama Department of Public Health. Dr. Braxton Lloyd met with the other participants at the inaugural meeting on Friday, Dec. 13, 2002 in Montgomery, Alabama.
According to Betty Carol Graham, the State Representative who sponsored the bill, women attorneys, pediatricians, gynecologists, CEOs of hospitals, a representative of the nurses association, pharmacists, dietitians, teachers at medical schools, doctors of internal medicine, OB/GYNs, and representatives of insurance agencies were chosen to comprise the newly formed board. Topics for discussion likely will include insurance for women, heart disease, cancer, stroke, domestic violence, and obesity. "It was absolutely wonderful to see Alabama being proactive rather than reactive to something as important as women's health," Graham said.
The purpose of the new office is:
• To educate the public and be an advocate for women's health by establishing appropriate forums to educate the public regarding women's health, with an emphasis on preventive health and healthy lifestyles;
• To assist the state health officer in identifying, coordinating and establishing priorities for programs, services and resources the state should provide for women's health issues and concerns;
• To serve as a clearing house and resource for information regarding women's health data services and programs that address women's health issues; and
• To provide an annual report on the status of women's health and activities of the office to the governor and the Legislature.
Most Alabamians don't realize their state ranks 49th overall on issues of women's health, said Dr. Braxton Lloyd. "As a member of this group, I hope to be able to change that number."
