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SearchEvent celebrates progress and announces generous contribution aimed at advancing women’s health research
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Cleveland Clinic has hosted its inaugural Women’s Health Forum, bringing together national leaders in healthcare, research, and advocacy to mark the one-year anniversary of its Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center.
The event, held on June 5 at the InterContinental Cleveland Hotel, served as both a celebration of progress and a call to action for the future of women’s health.
“This forum is a powerful reminder that women’s health is not a niche issue—it’s a global imperative,” said Maria Shriver, founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic and Chief Visionary and Strategic Advisor of the center. “We aim to help build a future where women’s unique health needs are better understood, prioritized, and addressed through cutting-edge research and compassionate care.”
To accelerate research efforts at the Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center, a $1.5 million gift from Stacie Halpern and Lauren Spilman was announced during the forum. The gift, made in honor of their mother, Sydell Miller, will support the expansion of the center’s research infrastructure, recruitment of leading researchers, and the launch of educational programs to advance women’s health research.
“Our mother believed deeply in the power of women. She often told us that when you help a woman thrive, you uplift families, communities and the future. We can think of no better way to honor our mother's legacy than through a gift to a place where compassion meets innovation to advance the health and well-being of women everywhere,” said Mrs. Halpern and Mrs. Spilman.
Sydell Miller was a beauty-industry trailblazer, groundbreaking entrepreneur, and compassionate philanthropist who inspired generations of women. Her daughters’ gift will continue her legacy of giving while supporting future generations.
“This generous gift from the Miller family will help us do more to meet the evolving health needs of women,” said Beri Ridgeway, M.D., Executive Vice President and Enterprise Chief of Staff at Cleveland Clinic. “It allows us to expand the scope and scale of our work—advancing research and supporting innovative care models that will shape the future of women’s health for generations to come.”
In addition to the presentation of the gift, highlights of the forum included:
This event builds on the momentum of the WAM Forum, held May 19 at Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, which spotlighted advances in women’s brain health research. This year also marks the fifth anniversary of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic.
Since its launch in 2024, the Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center has served more than 10,000 patients, scheduled more than 18,000 appointments, and hosted more than 1,000 virtual shared medical appointments focused on menopause. Through personalized care, support and resources, the center supports women in midlife and beyond, focusing on four areas: access, connectivity, education, and research and innovation.
“This forum creates a space where women feel seen, heard and supported,” said Pelin Batur, M.D., Medical Director of the center. “It reinforces our commitment to equal access to innovation and high-quality care for women during midlife and beyond.”
Recordings of key sessions from the forum will be available as part of a digital experience launching later this month.
Cleveland Clinic plans to host the Women’s Health Forum annually to highlight the latest research, foster collaboration, and advance innovation in women’s healthcare.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 82,600 employees worldwide are more than 5,786 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,700 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,728-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 280 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2024, there were 15.7 million outpatient encounters, 333,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 320,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 112 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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