Dr. Olaya Suarez Headshot

International Women's Day 2022

UCB’s Dr. Olaya Suárez Magdalena, a practicing dermatologist, reflects on International Women’s Day 2022 and shares how global health campaigns like Advantage Hers are helping women take a more active role in their health care.

As we celebrate the strength and accomplishments of women across the globe this International Women’s Day, it is equally important to reflect upon the ways in which gender disparities still pervade our everyday lives.

With this year’s theme, #BreakTheBias, we are implored to acknowledge both explicit and internalized stereotypes, acts of discrimination and gender bias in healthcare. Gender disparities can negatively impact health outcomes. For women living with chronic inflammatory diseases – including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis – existing barriers often have severe implications such as delays in diagnoses, misdiagnoses and a lack of quality treatment.

Opening the conversation around gender disparities provides an opportunity for us to enact meaningful, actionable change to help improve women’s health. And global health campaigns like Advantage Hers are helping to move the needle.

Inspired by the millions of women across the world living with chronic inflammatory diseases, Advantage Hers equips women with tools and resources to empower them to take on a more active role in their health care. Through encouraging women to share their journeys, the campaign offers a platform for women to learn from and support one another while drawing much-needed attention to the gender inequalities experienced in diagnosis and treatment.

The International Women’s Day 2022 theme encourages us to imagine a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. Today and every day, UCB is committed to helping #BreakTheBias and improving the standard of care for women living with these chronic inflammatory diseases to help make positive changes in their lives.