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Gender determines the outcome of numerous wide-spread diseases. Myocardial infarction, heart failure (HF), diabetes, neuropsychiatric, musculoskeletal, renal and others differ significantly between women and men. Side effects of frequently used drugs, use of prevention and rehabilitation depend on gender. A large imbalance of gender knowledge between different European regions exists. Yet, a systematic assembly of gender aspects in medicine is lacking in Europe.
Seven European universities (Berlin, Budapest, Innsbruck, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Sassari, and Stockholm; for more details see "Partners") and their associated partners join forces in EUGIM to generate a flexible module "Gender Medicine (GM)" that teaches gender differences in wide-spread diseases, therapy and research throughout Europe. Starting 2006, the partners identified in yearly conferences medical disciplines where gender differences and need for gender knowledge are most prominent. We now combine the expertise of the partners in these disciplines to assemble scientific content and learning goals for a common GM module and to build a common pool of teachers. GM module can be flexibly integrated into bachelor or master programmes or vocational education at different universities and leads to an internationally recognized certificate. This promotes innovation in medical education and contributes to harmonization of biomedical study structures in Europe.
The project generates internationally recognized experts for a gender-sensitive medicine and creates an expandable European network from university and non-university partners. Network members sensitize universities, medical professional organizations, health care politics, funding organizations and insurance companies for gender aspects. Dissemination of gender aspects improves the practical treatment of women and men and reduces deaths and side effects from pharmaceutical management. Lay organisations are requiring such knowledge, too.