In the ongoing pursuit of enhancing women’s health globally, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and its lead global sponsor and official health partner, Hologic, have taken another step forward. As part of their shared commitment to female empowerment and well-being, the two organizations have brought together an impressive consortium of world-renowned female athletes and healthcare experts to establish the Hologic WTA Women’s Health Taskforce.
At the helm of this taskforce, the WTA Performance Health team leverages its considerable expertise accrued over decades of service to professional female tennis players. The diverse taskforce includes six WTA athletes and 19 medical advisors.
The timing of the new initiative aligns with the WTA’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, under the forward-looking theme of “WTA 50: Just Starting and signals an ambitious plan to utilize five decades’ worth of data and insights gathered from professional athletes to push the boundaries of knowledge and resources available for women’s health on a global scale.
The Hologic WTA Women’s Health Taskforce will prioritize various specialties within female and performance health, with a keen focus on adolescent development in girls. Kathleen Ann Stroia, Senior Vice President of the WTA Performance Health department and taskforce co-chair, stated, “The leadership and discovery from these exceptional women will mutually benefit WTA athletes and active women worldwide. We aim to carve new pathways to healthier lives through education, expanded care, and further research and policy standards.”
Kim Clijsters, former WTA World No.1, a mother of three, and an athlete member of the taskforce, highlighted the unique opportunities presented by the initiative. She asserted that it offers the potential to influence not only the next generation of athlete care but also how women worldwide approach their health and well-being at all life stages.
Highlighting the power of this collaborative effort, Dr. Susan Harvey, taskforce co-chair and Hologic’s Vice President of Global Medical Affairs, noted, “It’s truly groundbreaking that we’re able to bring together top athletes, top medical experts, and two organizations committed to championing women. By working collaboratively, we aim to make significant strides in improving women’s health.”
The taskforce has identified an expansive range of issues it plans to address. These include sexual and reproductive health, physical and physiological health, injury and illness prevention, the female life span, and advancements in technology and equipment. With the ultimate aim to enhance education, resources, governance standards, preventive care, and longitudinal data, the taskforce is poised to bring about meaningful changes.
In the early months of its operation, the taskforce will concentrate on devising new strategies to improve breast health, bone health, and reproductive health within their respective networks. Simultaneously, these efforts will boost related research, benefiting a wider community.
