BCAM president Janine O'Leary Cobb has been named one of the 30 most influential figures in women's health by the National Women's Health Network, based in Washington, D.C. She is the only Canadian to make the NWHN's "Honor 30 for the 30th" list.
Janine has an impressive career as a women's health activist. She became a friend to women in 1984 when she began publishing the newsletter, A Friend Indeed, while teaching humanities and sociology at Vanier College. After noticing a lack of adequate information on menopause in existing literature, and the characterization of menopause as a disease by many in the medical community, she decided to bring a more balanced, women-centred approach to the subject. The newsletter achieved a worldwide circulation.
In 1988, Janine was asked to write a book about the subject. Understanding Menopause is now in its 6th edition (2005), and has sold over 45,000 copies in Canada alone. She joined BCAM in 1998 and became president in 2004. Janine is initiating projects to introduce BCAM's mission to a new generation of women's health activists. Her leadership is advancing BCAM's mission, calling for funding of prevention strategies and research into the environmental causes of breast cancer.
We are thrilled that Janine has received this distinguished recognition of her work, which has touched so many people.
Have a look at www.nwhn.org/30for30/index.php