Wood

Susan F. Wood

Research Professor of Health Policy & Management and of Environmental & Occupational Health, and Director of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, George Washington University
Chapter Member: Maryland-Washington, D.C. SSN
Areas of Expertise:

Connect with Susan

(202) 994-4171

About Susan

Wood has committed much of her professional career to ensuring that health and science policy is based upon the best available evidence and research data. Her work and scholarship reflects this overarching theme and centers around identifying research gaps that address key health issues; thus providing useful information to policymakers. This has come together as a focus on women’s health research combined with the role of Federal Agencies; such as the FDA; in regulatory and research policies. Wood has contributed significantly to the national women’s health research and policy agenda over the last two decades; through work on issues related to emergency contraception and related reproductive health topics; inclusion of women in clinical research; and scientific integrity. She has collaborated widely with policymakers and advocates to promote women’s health and research.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | In the News | Publications

Contributions

How Comprehensive Payment Policies for Medicaid Can Help Patients Gain Access to Long-Acting Contraception

    Veronica X. Vela , Peter Shin Susan F. Wood , Sara Rosenbaum
Basic Facts Brief,

In the News

Quoted by Michele Cohen Marill in "The Dangers of Excluding Women From HIV Prevention Drug Tests," Wired, June 10, 2020.
Interviewed in "Title X Funding in Limbo with Federal Grants Slated to Expire," NPR Illinois, February 6, 2018.
Research discussed by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, in "Women's Health Experts Say Trump Birth Control Rule Overlooks Known Benefits while Raising Doubts on Effectiveness," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 13, 2017.
Quoted by Kenza Moller in "Does Birth Control Kill a Fetus? Um, No, Nope, Absolutely Not," Romper, October 6, 2017.
Quoted by Molly Redden in "Reproductive Rights Groups Condemn Trump's Nominee for Health Secretary," The Guardian, December 2, 2016.
Opinion: "The 21st Century Cures Act Could be a Harmful Step Backward," Susan F. Wood (with Diana Zuckerman), The Washington Post, November 19, 2015.
Opinion: "Obama Lets Politics Trump Science in Plan B Fight," Susan F. Wood, The Daily Beast, April 6, 2012.
Opinion: "With the Plan B Decision, the Obama Administration Broke Its Promise," Susan F. Wood, The Washington Post, December 9, 2011.
Opinion: "Transparency, Strength at the FDA," Susan F. Wood (with David Michaels), Boston Globe, August 1, 2007.

Publications

"Inappropriate Obstructions to Access: The FDA’s Handling of Plan B" JAMA Virtual Mentor 16, no. 4 (2014): 295-301.

Argues that the scientific and medical communities must defend the evidence of the health benefits to women and to families with access to family planning tools, including emergency contraception. Highlights the need to ensure that safe, effective, and beneficial drugs are made as available as possible. 

"Policy Forum: Uncapping Conflict of Interest" (with Jillian Mador). Science 340 (2013): 1172-1173.

Argues that the 2012 scaling back of limits on FDA advisory panel financial conflicts had no clear basis and may have unanticipated impacts.  

"Evaluation of Social Media Utilization by Latino Adolescents: Implications for Mobile Health Interventions" (with Megan Landry, Amita Vyas, Monique Turner, and Sara Glick). Journal of Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth 3, no. 3 (2015).

Analyses utilization and behaviors of Latino adolescents as changes in social media trends occur, including sending/receiving short message service (SMS) and social networking. Examines the social media utilization among Latino youth, and differences by sex and acculturation. 

"Women’s Health, Pregnancy and the Food and Drug Administration" (with Rebekah Gee and Kathryn Schubert). Obstetrics and Gynecology 123, no. 1 (2014): 161-165.

Covers some of the pertinent history of the FDA regulation of medications and devices important to women’s health care. Discusses some of the challenges in progress, and advances some proposals for improved safety and efficacy of drugs in pregnant women. 

"Adolescent Family Planning Services Delivered in Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)" (with Holly Mead, Tishra Beeson, Debora Goldberg, Peter Shin, and Sara Rosenbaum). Journal of Adolescent Health 57, no. 1 (2015): 87-93.

Examines the role of community health centers in providing comprehensive family planning services to adolescents, looking at the range of services offered and factors associated with provision of these services.

"Scope of Family Planning Services Available in Federally Qualified Health Centers" (with Tishra Beeson, Brian Bruen, Debora Goldberg, Holly Mead, Peter Shin, and Sara Rosenbaum). Contraception 89, no. 2 (2014): 85-90.

Reports on the scope of services provided at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) including on-site provision, prescription only and referral options for the range of contraceptive methods.