UCLA Health has joined the Women’s Health Network at the Milken Institute, becoming one of more than 100 organizations dedicated to advancing women’s health care.
Through this global collaboration, UCLA Health Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) will work alongside other leading institutions to drive innovation, expand access to health care and improve health outcomes for women worldwide.
“The broad diaspora of the UCLA Women’s Health community includes the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women’s Health Center, the Center for Reproductive Science Health and Education, researchers in the Fielding School of Public Health, and so many more,” says Christina Han, MD, who is representing UCLA Health, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and UCLA Health OB/GYN as part of the Women’s Health Network.
“We anticipate being able to further enhance the depth and width of the work being done at UCLA in patient care, education, advocacy and research through multidirectional collaboration with other members within this network,” she says.
The Women’s Health Network, founded in April 2025 and chaired by former First Lady Jill Biden, EdD, works to foster collaboration and increase investment across women’s health care. The network unites multidisciplinary experts — including leaders from research institutions, health systems, business and technology — to accelerate advancements in women’s health. Currently, the initiative’s workstreams include investing in innovation and market access, identifying gaps across the drug development life cycle, evaluating coverage for new technologies and advancing women’s health in the workplace.
“UCLA Health looks forward to collaborating with the outstanding leaders in the Milken Institute to advance research, foster innovation and improve quality of life for women at every stage of life,” says Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health and CEO of the UCLA Hospital & Clinic System. “We are committed to delivering leading-edge patient care, research and education, and we are proud to bring this expertise to the forefront of women’s health.”
With support from Martha Lawrence and the UCLA Technology Development Group (TDG) Board, UCLA Health will contribute its clinical and research expertise to the coalition.
Beth Karlan, MD, gynecologic oncologist and a member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, will serve on the Women, Cancer, and Access Working Group. Dr. Han, professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and division director of maternal-fetal medicine, also will engage in the Coverage & Reimbursement and Catalyzing Capital Fund Design working groups.
As an active clinician-researcher, Dr. Han aims to elevate the needs of women across UCLA Health’s diverse patient community by addressing pain points in access, diagnosis, management, technology and holistic support. She is also committed to representing the voice of UCLA researchers in women’s health — both within UCLA OB/GYN and across the broader academic community — while connecting promising early-stage investigators with the Women’s Health Network.
Together, these initiatives highlight UCLA Health’s commitment to advancing a more innovative, equitable and globally connected future for women’s health.
