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IOF Women Leaders Roundtable 2006

On June 2, 2006 nine prominent women from around the world participated at the 2nd IOF Women Leaders Roundtable, held in conjunction with the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis in Toronto. They called for action by government policy makers, health professionals and individuals to fight the silent epidemic of osteoporosis.

See picture gallery (14 pictures)

The women, who come from the fields of public service, journalism, medicine, the arts, politics, philanthropy and sports, included:

Moderator:
Dr. Marla Shapiro, Canada, associate professor University of Toronto, Family and Community Health, family physician, TV and print journalist
Biography (PDF, 101.7 KB)
Australia:
Maxine McKew, journalist, TV host, patron of Osteoporosis Australia
Biography, personal statement and fact sheet (PDF, 151.1 KB)
Canada:
Maureen McTeer, medical law specialist, human rights advocate, author, patron of Osteoporosis Canada
Biography, personal statement and fact sheet (PDF, 141.9 KB)
China:
Alice Chiu, prominent philanthropist, founder and director, Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation, Hong Kong
Biography, personal statement and fact sheet (PDF, 113.8 KB)
Italy:
Lella Costa, theatre actress, osteoporosis advocate
Biography, personal statement and fact sheet (PDF, 501.2 KB)
Panama:
Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002, patron of Fundacion de Osteoporosis y Enfermedades Metabolicas Oseas (PanamaOsteoporosis Foundation)
Biography, personal statement and fact sheet (PDF, 156.3 KB)
United Kingdom:
Baroness Julia Cumberlege, member House of Lords, former UK health minister, prominent osteoporosis advocate
Biography and personal statement (PDF, 164 KB)
USA:
Peggy Fleming, Olympic Gold Medalist and former world champion in figure skating, TV sports analyst, osteoporosis advocate
Biography, personal statement and fact sheet (PDF, 180.7 KB)
USA:
Dr. Ethel Siris, president of National Osteoporosis Foundation (USA), IOF Board member
Biography, speech and fact sheet (PDF, 315.5 KB)

In their Call to Action, signed by all the participants, the women specifically urged –

Women and men worldwide to:

  • Engage in a "bone-friendly" lifestyle, including appropriate exercise programs, nutrition and attention to risk factors
  • Insist that their health care professionals provide the best care possible

Health care professionals to:

  • Improve their knowledge about how their field of specialty relates to osteoporosis
  • Spend the time to advise patients about osteoporosis prevention and treatment

Government health officials to:

  • Recognize osteoporosis as a health priority
  • Pay for bone density scans and improve the availability of bone densitometry machines for people with osteoporosis risk factors before the first fracture.
  • Pay for proven therapies for people with osteoporosis before the first fracture.

The 2nd IOF Women Leaders Roundtable was convened, in part, because while women around the world may be aware of osteoporosis, they seriously underestimate its prevalence and therefore they may not consider themselves to personally be at risk.

The Roundtable held in Toronto followed the 1st IOF Women Leaders Roundtable held in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2002.
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