*********Women’s Committee*** Brunch Highlights**
The Philadelphia Psychiatric Society Women’s Committee hosted
“Menopause: The Science of a Life Transition,” a dynamic
symposium on advancing evidence-based care for midlife women. Attendees
were not shy about asking insightful questions throughout each
presentation, not just the concluding panel discussion. The conversation
emphasized the importance of addressing menopause as a core component of
comprehensive women’s health care.
Maiken Scott, journalist, host, and executive producer of WHYY’s
The Pulse, opened with “Menopause and the Media: How
Coverage Drives Treatment Decisions.” She traced the evolution of
menopause in public discourse, from secrecy and dismissal to attempts at
women’s empowerment, while highlighting ongoing concerns, including
misguided anti-aging messaging and the direct-to-consumer marketing of
unregulated hormone products. She issued a compelling call to action for
physicians to be more visible in media and community spaces, providing
approachable and honest information to patients.
Dr. Arina Chesnokova, an academic specialist in Obstetrics and
Gynecology, a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and health
sciences researcher, presented “The Pendulum and the Data: Making
Sense of Modern Menopause Care.” She grounded the audience in
current research, clarified data misinterpretations that have shaped
conventional practice for decades, and emphasized thoughtful,
individualized care.
Drs. Lauren Dubner and Sheila Shanmugan of the Penn Center for
Women’s Behavioral Wellness presented “Perimenopause for the General
Psychiatrist.” This practical review of psychiatric symptoms
emerging or worsening during perimenopause also empowered psychiatrists
to incorporate hormone treatment, such as birth control, into practice
in collaboration with gynecology colleagues.
Beyond clinical content, the event highlighted the important work of
fostering spaces that recognize the ever-growing contribution of women
to psychiatric practice. Attendees shared a meal, engaged in lively
discussion and networking, reinforcing a shared commitment to advocacy,
education, and mentorship. The Women’s Committee looks forward to
building on this momentum in future programming.
Bio
Sarita Metzger, MD, MPH, FAPA, FASAM is an early
career community psychiatrist and Medical Director at Vanna Health, a
startup promoting recovery-oriented, community based care. Board
certified in Addiction Medicine, her clinical practice and lectures have
focused on culturally informed crisis care and substance use
treatment. Dr. Metzger earned her BSE in Chemical Engineering from
Princeton University, her MD from Wright State University, and her MPH
from George Washington University. She completed residency and a
Public/Community Psychiatry fellowship at The University of Pennsylvania
where she is now an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry,
directing the cultural psychiatry curriculum. She is Vice President of
the Pennsylvania Society of Addiction Medicine and co-chairs the
Philadelphia Psychiatric Society Women’s Committee.