News

In her recent presentation at Brown Brothers Harriman, Jeanne highlighted the crucial role of sex and gender in clinical practice, prevention, and broader health awareness. She illustrated how biological and sociocultural factors shape health outcomes and why their historical underrepresentation in medicine has led to gaps in care.

Using concrete examples—from cardiovascular disease and depression to immune responses—Jeanne demonstrated how symptoms and risks can differ across populations and why Gender Medicine is essential for more individualized and effective healthcare for everyone. The discussion that followed reflected the strong interest in advancing gender‑equitable approaches to health and prevention.

• Jeanne's LinkedIn Post 02.04.2026

Jeanne led an interactive workshop on Gender Medicine in Practice at the Swiss Medical Students’ Convention, sparking lively discussions about how sex and gender influence symptoms and clinical decisions.

Students explored misconceptions surrounding myocardial infarction symptoms, including the understanding that chest pain is equally common in both women and men. They also examined sex-specific cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertensive pregnancy complications. The session emphasized the importance of integrating sex and gender considerations into diagnostic reasoning to enhance patient outcomes.

• Swimsa Events 27-29.03.2026

On 20 March 2026, Fynn took part in the symposium “How to Teach Gender in Medicine and Health?", held as part of the National Research Programme 83 “Gender Medicine and Health”. The event addressed the methodological challenges and interdisciplinarity of gender education in healthcare. In his talk, "Sex and Gender in Medicine: An Elective Course at the University of Zurich", Fynn provided insight into the teaching activities of the Chair for Gender Medicine.

• NRP 83’s LinkedIn Post 20.03.2026
• Event Website

The Scientific Program Committee of the Swiss Gender Medicine Symposium, which will take place on 26–27 October 2026 in Bern, is inviting researchers to submit their abstracts in the following categories:
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- Basic Science
- Clinical Science
- Public Health/Global Health

This call is open for researchers at all levels, and all studies. Selected posters will be presented by the researchers during specific poster sessions at the 2026 symposium.
​
You can find the full call for posters and further details about the Swiss Gender Medicine Symposium at the link below.

• Call for Posters 31.03.2026
• Website Swiss Gender Medicine Symposium

The workshop series Cycles of Care: Bridging Medicine, Technology, Sociology, and Intersectional Design brings together researchers and practitioners from medicine, technology, sociology, and feminist design. It focuses on how to best integrate sex and gender specific data into research and practice by sharing evidence, highlighting best case examples, and addressing gaps and biases in data, design, communication, and care.

Jeanne delivered the keynote, “Why Sex and Gender Matter in Research and Health Innovation,” highlighting how biological and sociocultural differences shape health outcomes and why these dimensions must be integrated into research and healthcare to drive equitable and effective innovation.

The workshop series was organized by the Digital Society Initiative, an initiative of the University of Zurich.

• Registration at UZH's Event Portal
• Jeanne's LinkedIn Post 26.03.2026

In the first episode of a new podcast series, Bigna Silberschmidt speaks with Carolin and Prof. Dr. Flurin Condrau, a medical historian at the University of Zurich. Together, they explore what gender medicine really means and why it is so often misunderstood.

Carolin explains how strongly biological and sociocultural differences shape health and why these perspectives are essential in research, diagnostics, and treatment. Prof. Dr. Condrau illustrates how the male body historically became the medical norm – with consequences that still resonate today.

Curious to learn more? Tune in now and listen to the full episode – available on all major podcast platforms through the links below.

• On Spotify, 22.03.2026
• On Apple Podcasts

At this training event at Kantonsspital Schaffhausen, Jeanne spoke in her lecture “Pregnancy may be over, but the risk remains” about the long‑term health risks that can follow pregnancy complications. Conditions such as hypertensive pregnancy disorders or gestational diabetes not only increase acute risks but also have long‑term effects on the cardiovascular health of both mother and child. Structured follow‑up care is therefore essential, for example in the Women’s Heart Clinic at the University Hospital Zurich, led by Carolin.

• Jeanne's LinkedIn Post 20.03.2026
• Event Website Gynécologie Suisse

Jeanne led a training session at Medgate Switzerland on “Gender Medicine in Digital Care,” focusing on practical, clinically relevant knowledge for General Internal Medicine. She demonstrated how conditions such as heart attacks, strokes and immune reactions can manifest differently in women and men, highlighting why recognising sex‑specific symptoms is essential in digital healthcare settings.

On average, women show a stronger immune response — for example after vaccinations — but also experience side effects more frequently. Interestingly, these differences already appear in childhood, with girls showing more frequent local and systemic reactions. You can find more on this topic in Jeanne's paper on COVID vaccination in children (link below).

• Jeanne's LinkedIn Post 18.03.2026
• Link to Paper on Covid Vaccination in Children (Springer Nature)

The BILD Heart Summit is one of Germany’s major national platforms dedicated to raising awareness for cardiovascular health. Heart and circulatory diseases remain the country’s leading cause of death, and the event brings together experts from medicine, research, and policy to highlight new scientific insights, innovative prevention strategies, and ways to reduce avoidable deaths. With its broad media reach across print, digital, video, and social media, the BILD Heart Summit aims to strengthen public understanding of cardiovascular risks and promote better prevention nationwide.

This year, Carolin contributed to the program on 17 March 2026, joining leading specialists to discuss advances in cardiology and preventive heart medicine.

• BILD Herzgipfel 17.03.2026
• YT The BILD Heart Summit 2026 17.03.2026

Women differ from men biologically, hormonally and metabolically. Yet they have historically been underrepresented in clinical studies, leading to frequent misinterpretations of symptoms and incorrect assessments of medication effects and dosages in women.

Carolin provides context on this issue and explains the key critical aspects in SRF’s programme “Gesundheit Heute.” (Her interview starts at 18:00).

• SRF Gesundheit heute 14.03.

USZ asked Carolin three key questions during her consultation at the University Hospital Zurich — now featured in a short Instagram video:

• How do heart attack symptoms differ between men and women?
• Why have women been underrepresented in cardiac studies, and how does this influence treatment responses, such as to blood pressure medication?
• Which specialized services at USZ support women’s heart health?

Check out the Instagram video below to hear Carolin’s answers (in German).

• USZ Instagram Account 10.03.2026

The Kinder‑Universität Zürich (Kinder‑UZH) offers children from the 3rd to 6th grade an inspiring and playful introduction to the world of science. Participation is free of charge and open to all children, regardless of school performance—curiosity is the only requirement.

In this year’s spring program, Carolin introduces the young audience to the field of gender medicine. In her lecture “Why Medicine Works Differently in Girls and Boys”, she explains why medications and diseases can affect girls and boys differently, and how research is working to better understand these differences.

• UZH Kinder Uni 11.03.2026

On 11 February 2026, the Department of Biomedicine and Athena’s Journey celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with a symposium on Sex and Gender Differences in Medicine and Research.

Jeanne delivered a keynote, “She Matters: Rethinking Heart Health Through a Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Lens,” covering the history of gender medicine, clinical examples in cardiovascular care, and why sex- and gender-informed approaches are essential.

• DBM Website 11.02.2026

The ONEMILLIONWOMEN! Award celebrates the outstanding contributions that women in health strive to achieve. We are proud that both Carolin and Jeanne have been nominated among the many remarkable female scientists.

• LinkedIn Post Women in Health 11.02.2026

On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the ESC Scientists of Tomorrow invited colleagues from across the ESC community to reflect on a simple but powerful question: “What does it mean to be a woman in science?”

Discover the inspiring responses from the women shaping the future of cardiovascular science at the link below.

• LinkedIn Post Women in Science 11.02.2026

PharmaDavos is one of Switzerland’s leading annual congresses for pharmacists, bringing together professionals from industry, practice, and academia for a full week of continuing education and networking in the heart of the Alps. This year’s edition took place from 8–12 February 2026 at the Davos Congress Centre, continuing its tradition of fostering exchange, learning, and professional collaboration. As part of the 2026 program, Carolin delivered a keynote lecture, contributing her expertise to the congress’s diverse scientific agenda.

• pharmaDavos 8-12.02.2026

On Go Red for Women Day, we shine a light on an issue that deserves more attention: Women’s Heart Health. Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death among women, yet it is still too often under-recognized, under-researched, and under-treated.

At Cardiology USZ and University of Zurich, the Women’s Heart Health Program and the Chair for Gender Medicine pair clinical expertise, research, and dedicated education, to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment so that women’s hearts receive the care they deserve.

• LinkedIn Post Go Red for Women 4. 2. 2026
• USZ Gender Medicine in Cardiology

Women live longer than men yet spend significantly more years in poor health—a gender health gap that reaches beyond physical wellbeing to affect careers, income, family life, and long‑term financial security. UBS’s latest report, Women and Health: Challenges and Opportunities, explores how inequalities such as delayed diagnoses, chronic conditions, higher medical costs, and caregiving responsibilities shape women’s lives and the wider economy.

Contributing to the report, Jeanne emphasized that despite progress, women’s health continues to face major challenges, including persistent data gaps, underrepresentation in clinical trials, insufficient sex-specific analysis, limited targeted funding, structural barriers, and ongoing gender disparities in medical careers that affect both research priorities and patient care.

• UBS Women and Health Report January 2026

The 45th International Symposium is a major annual scientific meeting dedicated to advances in intensive care and emergency medicine. The symposium brings together hundreds of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals from around the world for several days of expert lectures, discussions, and education.

Jeanne delivered a keynote lecture highlighting the importance of integrating gender medicine across all medical disciplines. She emphasized that good medicine must be differentiated and that gender-sensitive approaches are essential in every specialty.

• AINS-Symposium St. Anton 2.02.2026

Jeanne spoke at the Women’s Health Congress in Fribourg, where she addressed key aspects of gender medicine and cardiovascular health. She emphasized that cardiovascular health is essential before, during, and long after pregnancy, as well as throughout the perimenopausal transition.

She highlighted that several female-specific conditions serve as important indicators of future cardiovascular risk, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, infertility, and early menopause.

• Jeanne's LinkedIn Post 21.01.2026

In this episode of the FemmeHealth Alliance podcast, presented by Blindspot Capital, Carolin speaks with Maryann Selfe about why heart disease presents differently in women and how hormones across pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause fundamentally reshape cardiovascular risk.

• Blindspot Capital Heart Disease in Women, YT 15.01.2026

Family doctors are often the first point of care throughout life, yet gender-specific differences are still overlooked—from heart attack symptoms in women to depression patterns in men and risks after pregnancy complications.

For gender medicine to become part of everyday practice, more is needed: clear guidelines, targeted training, and consistent integration into primary care. General practice plays a crucial key role in this.

• VBHK Magazin 3/2025 (in German) 11.12.2025

Symptoms and therapies differ between the sexes. If these differences are not taken into account, this can lead to delayed diagnosis and poorer treatment outcomes.

Female leadership has been shown to improve research, team diversity, and the quality of medical care—especially for female patients.

To unlock this potential, biological and sociocultural aspects of women’s professional lives must be considered: through flexible work models, mentoring, digital solutions, and greater awareness—so that parenthood and leadership responsibilities can be reconciled.

• Universimed Leading Opinions 4.12.2025

As the year comes to a close, we would like to sincerely thank you for your trust, inspiring exchanges, and the many collaborations throughout the past year. Together, we have been able to advance important initiatives in gender-sensitive research, education, and clinical practice.

We look forward to continuing our shared journey toward a more equitable, evidence-based, and individualized approach to medicine, and to the projects and collaborations that lie ahead in the coming year.

The Chair for Gender Medicine at the University of Zurich wishes you happy holidays and a successful start to the new year.

On 15 December 2025, the first Women’s Heart Symposium Basel took place, marking an important milestone in advancing gender-sensitive cardiovascular medicine. This interdisciplinary continuing education event focuses on cardiovascular diseases in women and is aimed at cardiologists, internists, general practitioners, and professionals from related disciplines.

Leading national and international experts from cardiology, cardiac surgery, gynecology, neurology, endocrinology, geriatrics, and gender medicine presented the latest scientific evidence and discussed its translation into clinical practice through interactive formats. Carolin has been invited to contribute a presentation on “Cardiovascular Complications in Pregnancy”, highlighting the critical importance of sex- and gender-specific perspectives in cardiovascular care.

• Website Unispital Basel 15.12.2025

We are proud to announce that Carolin has once again been included in Switzerland’s Top 100 Women in Business 2025, in the category Science & Technology. This recognition honors women who take responsibility, shape public life, and contribute decisively to Switzerland’s economic, scientific, and societal development.

This distinction represents a significant acknowledgment of Carolin’s work in gender medicine and reflects the collective achievements, dedication, and milestones reached by the entire team over the past year.

• Website Women in Business 1.12.2025

In a blog post published by Frauenzentrale, Jean explains why gender medicine is essential: Biological and sociocultural differences shape how diseases develop and how effective treatments are. Only individualized care can ensure medical treatment that is both equitable and effective.

This interview is part of the «FeMedizid» campaign. This initiative by Frauenzentrale Zürich aims to close the knowledge gap in medicine and raise awareness of women's health issues.

• Blog Post "Geschlecht entscheidet mit" 9.12.2025

Our team has just published a new study in Clinical Research in Cardiology. We systematically examined how sex and gender are considered in contemporary cardiovascular clinical trials: from participant representation and reporting to the impact of gender diversity in research teams. Our findings highlight persistent gaps and promising opportunities to advance equity and strengthen scientific quality in cardiovascular research.

• Consideration of sex/gender aspects in cardiovascular clinical trials 26.11.2025

Hosted by the Zurich Heart House, this training focused on the ESC’s new guidelines for cardiovascular prevention, providing an up-to-date overview of risk factors and innovative treatment strategies. Key topics included lifestyle interventions and modern management of obesity, lipids, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and fatty liver. Carolin presented sex- and gender-sensitive aspects of clinical care in cardiovascular medicine and emphasized that addressing and understanding these factors – particularly in women – is essential for achieving equity in cardiovascular health.

• Zurich Heart House Event Website 27.11.2025

At the recent Connect@Advance event, hosted by Universitätsspital Zürich in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, more than 150 healthcare professionals, researchers, and business leaders came together to address a critical issue: women live 25% more of their lives in poor health than men. Among the inspiring speakers was our colleague Jeanne, who highlighted the overlooked female-specific symptoms in cardiovascular disease and the urgent need to recognize risk factors unique to women.

• We Advance Event Website 11.11.2025
• Jeanne's LinkedIn Post

On 21–22 November, at the ESC Digital & AI Summit, human insight met artificial intelligence for two dynamic days. Carolin chaired a thought-provoking session titled “AI in Cardiology – A Force for Progress or a Path to Big Tech Control of Healthcare?” The discussion examined the societal and ethical implications of integrating AI into cardiovascular medicine, addressing concerns around data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the influence of big tech. Participants debated whether AI complements or threatens the role of physicians and specialists and proposed models for human-AI collaboration in cardiology, including visions for the design of future hospitals.

• ESC AI & Digital Summit 2025 Website 20-21.11.2025

Jeanne joined our team in November as an Academic Research Fellow. She contributes to research projects, the supervision of students, teaching activities, and lectures. Her work focuses on sex- and gender-specific differences in cardiovascular diseases, physician well-being, and career trajectories in medicine. We are delighted to welcome Jeanne to our team and look forward to working with her!

• Meet the Team - Jeanne 1.11.2025

Switzerland is charting a new course in gender medicine despite challenges in funding and politics. The first Swiss Gender Medicine Symposium in Bern brought together 280 experts and send a strong signal for inclusive medicine. With initiatives like the Swiss Society for Gender Health and new national programs, the field is gaining momentum toward more equitable healthcare.

• SwissInfo Article 23.10.2025

On October 20–21, 2025, Bern hosted the first Swiss Gender Medicine Symposium – a landmark event that not only showcased cutting-edge research, innovative approaches, and forward-looking projects, but also drove interdisciplinary collaboration. The symposium brought together 280 experts and stakeholders to raise awareness of gender-specific gaps in research, diagnostics, and treatment, fostering dialogue and shaping strategies to advance gender-sensitive healthcare.

• Website Swiss Gender Medicine Symposium
• SGMS 2025 Video on YouTube

The Chair for Gender Medicine focuses on three core areas: research, clinical care, and teaching. In this SRF News feature, the latter two take center stage as Carolin is followed to her lecture and her consultation hour, offering an inside look at how gender medicine is integrated into education and patient care.

• SRF News 22.10.2025

In our "Meet the Team" video series, we introduce the dedicated researchers and professionals behind the Chair for Gender Medicine at the University of Zurich. Each team member shares their personal journey into the field, their current role, and what drives their passion for gender-sensitive research in medicine.

• UZH Gender Medicine "Meet the Team" Videos

In “Introduction to Gender Medicine”, first-year students are introduced to the fundamentals of gender medicine, while third-year students dive deeper into the principles of diagnostics and therapy through “Gender-Sensitive Pharmacology”. As they near the end of their studies, fifth-year students are taught about clinical decision-making in an interactive manner. These lectures exemplify the Chair for Gender Medicine’s commitment to integrating perspectives on sex and gender into medical education.

Imagine understanding gender medicine in just a few minutes. In three short videos (more to follow!), we break down complex topics with clarity and impact. Each episode is available with English subtitles, helping a global audience understand how gender influences diagnosis, therapy, and health outcomes. These videos go beyond education – they’re a step toward truly inclusive medicine.

• UZH Gender Medicine Explainer Videos

In this UZH News interview, Carolin shares how gender medicine connects disciplines – from basic research and clinical care to public health and behavioral sciences. She highlights the Swiss Gender Medicine Symposium as a vital platform for experts and key stakeholders to exchange knowledge, collaborate across sectors, and shape a shared agenda for advancing the field.

• UZH News: Nicht nur die Herzen der Frauen schlagen anders 15.10.2025

We’re excited to launch our official YouTube channel! Join us as we explore how sex and gender shape health, disease, and therapy. From groundbreaking research to clinical insights and education, our videos bring gender medicine to life and to your screen – clear, accessible, and fact-based. Subscribe now and become part of the conversation!

• UZH Gender Medicine YT Channel October 2025

On 2 October 2025, the Zurich Heart House hosted a webinar focusing on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in women. Prof. Carolin Lerchenmüller co-moderated the event alongside Prof. Thomas F. Lüscher, guiding discussions with leading international experts on gender differences in heart failure diagnosis and treatment.

• Zurich Heart House 02.10.2025

For years, the University of Zurich has been working for years to systematically embed gender medicine in research, teaching, and healthcare. At this event of the UZH Alumni Women’s Chapter, Prof. Beatrice Beck Schimmer, Prof. Carolin Lerchenmüller, and Agnes Nienhaus presented the progress that has been made so far. This developement includes the establishment of a dedicated chair, the formation of a specialised commission, collaborations with other Swiss universities, and the launch of the annual Swiss Gender Medicine Symposium, which will debut in 2025.

• UZH Alumni Women's Chapter 30.09.2025

In a recent episode of “Rock & Randale”, Carolin explores why medications are often incorrectly dosed for women, why women's hearts beat – and stop beating – differently, and why men are more likely to die from depression. Furthermore, they discuss why considering gender in medicine isn’t about being “woke,” but about evidence-based medicine.

• Podcast Rock & Randale 30.09.2025

How realistic is a true work-life balance for cardiologists? At the DGK Heart Days 2025 in Hamburg, Carolin tackled this pressing question in her talk “Compatibility of Job and Private Life: How Realistic Is Work-Life Balance?”. During the session “From Dawn till Dusk: Challenges in the Life of Young and Old Cardiologists”, she sparked lively reflection and discussion on how cardiologists can balance demanding careers with personal lives.

• Website DGK Herztage 2025 25-27.09.2025

We warmly congratulate Philipp Schlegel on successfully defending his doctoral thesis and earning his Dr. med. degree from the Medical Faculty Heidelberg. We are proud of Philipp’s achievement as a member of the Lerchenmüller lab, and look forward to his next steps in research and medicine.

Researchers and clinicians from around the world gathered in Magdeburg, Germany, for two days of inspiring knowledge exchange and networking. Carolin chaired a panel discussion titled 'Sex and gender differences in diseases across disciplines'. The aim of the collaboration is to shape the future of equitable healthcare in the field of sex- and gender-sensitive medicine.

• LinkedIn Post Gender- and Sex-specific Medicine and Prevention 18.09.2025

Dr. med. Jeanne Moor is a valued and close collaborator at the Chair for Gender Medicine. Today, the International Society of Gender Medicine recognised her work in the field of gender health and her commitment to equitable healthcare by presenting her with the Young Talent Award. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement, Jeanne!

• LinkedIn Post Gender- and Sex-specific Medicine and Prevention 18.09.2025

During the annual Congress of the European Society of Cardiology, Carolin was interviewed by Dr. med. Victoria Johnson, about her professorship, her journey into gender medicine, and her work with the ESC Gender Task Force.

• Video: Interview with Herzmedizin 18.09.2025

Over the next three weeks, our laboratory will be hosting two groups of students as part of the University of Zurich's biomedical module “Cardiac and Vascular Pathophysiology”. The students will gain insight into basic biochemical methods, our experimental work and the background of some of our research projects. Giulia, Fynn and Juening are looking forward to teaching the next generation of scientists.

• 16.09.2025

At the inaugural event of the Swiss Society for Gender Health (SSGH) in Bern, Carolin participated in a podium discussion alongside other experts such as Prof. Dr. med. Ute Seeland, Dr. Peter Wolfensberger and Dr. med. Bettina Balmer. The discussion focused on integrating sex and gender considerations into medical education and healthcare delivery.

• SSGH Website
• Event LinkedIn Post 09.09.2025

We are pleased to introduce Juening Kang, who joined our team in September as a research technician. He will support the basic science projects of the Chair for Gender Medicine by helping with data collection, research coordination and laboratory management. We are thrilled to welcome Juening to the team, where he will contribute valuable knowledge and a fresh perspective.

• Meet the Team - Juening 1.09.2025

Our group leader Giulia presented her poster about "Extracellular vesicle-mediated inflammatory reprogramming of macrophages in a diabetic hyperglycemic environment" at the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology. Her work – using an environment mimicking diabetic conditions – demonstrates that hyperglycemic endothelial cell vesicles prime macrophages toward inflammatory activation. Macrophages then increase cytokine release suggesting that the chronic inflammatory state observable in diabetic patients could also be modulated by endothelial cells paracrine signals.

• ESC Congress Madrid 29.08-1.09. 2025

Hosted by the Centre for Digital Health Interventions, the "1st Precision Digital Therapeutics Summer School" brought together interdisciplinary participants for five days to address urgent challenges in the Swiss healthcare system by designing digital solutions. The Chair for Gender Medicine provided insights into real-world clinical applications, resulting in a prototype and framework to address challenges in blood pressure management and adverse event documentation in women. We look forward to future developments.

• Centre for Digital Health Interventions August 2025

Do we research diseases in proportion to the harm they cause? Our team was part of a truly multidisciplinary team including economics, business, public health, public policy, and medicine, that worked to get closer to answering this important question. Check out our new study titled “Global distribution of research efforts, disease burden, and impact of US public funding withdrawal” in Nature Medicine.

• Nature Medicine 27.08.2025

At the 2025 Annual Meeting in Copenhagen, Carolin delivered an insightful invited talk on the impact of diversity in research and innovation from the medical perspective. Her presentation ‚Biased evidence – The double burden of Gender in Medicine’ resonated strongly with the audience, as reflected in the very positive feedback from the organizers and attendees.

• Website Academy of Management Annual meeting 2025 25-29.07.2025

We gathered in Heidelberg, Germany for our first team workshop; to define shared values, chart future goals, and collaborate on strategies to achieve them. Beyond the workshop, we enjoyed exploring Heidelberg’s charming old town and having dinner on the Neckar river. The city’s inspiring atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for our discussions and developments.

• Website Heidelberg July 2025

At the international symposium “Personalized Medicine in the Cardiometabolic Spectrum: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Targets” at Ruhr-University Bochum, Carolin delivered a talk about sex- and gender-aspect in cardiovascular health contributing to the dialogue on advancing personalized medicine in cardiometabolic health.

As part of the UZH Foundation’s flagship event Giving Back, Carolin joined the speaker lineup to share insights into gender medicine. The annual gathering offers the public a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and meet the people behind it. Guests are invited to listen to inspiring talks, ask their most pressing questions, and experience science up close.


Carolin’s presentation focused on the fundamentals and significance of gender medicine—with a special emphasis on the example of heart attacks and concrete recommendations for prevention.

• Video UZH Foundation "Giving Back" Event 2025 18.06.2025
• Website UZH Foundation "Giving Back "

Carolin was invited to speak at the newly launched Pharma Women’s Network event series by PwC, which highlights women in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries and aims to encourage meaningful exchange and networking.

In her talk, she emphasized the importance of sex- and gender-sensitive medicine, focusing in particular on cardiovascular disease in women. Carolin highlighted the biological factors affecting women’s heart health across different life stages and underscored the urgent need for targeted research and cross-sector collaboration to better understand and address these unique risks.

• LinkedIn Post Pharma Women's Network 17.06.2025
• Contact Form Pharma Women's Network

The Chair for Gender Medicine was represented for the first time at the Annual Meeting of the Swiss Society of Cardiology (SSC) with both a workshop contribution and a scientific abstract. Carolin participated in the session “Women in Front of and Behind the Stethoscope”, where she addressed the current state and future perspectives of female patients and physicians in cardiology. Our colleague Maximilian presented the Chair’s first abstract: "A systematic analysis of women participation and gender-sensitive reporting in cardiovascular trials between 2017-2024".

• Website SSC/ SSGC Annual Meeting 2025 4-6.06.2025

The focus of the Life Science Zurich Impact Conference was precision medicine and ai innovation. Carolin contributed with a keynote on “The role of artificial intelligence for precision sex- and gender medicine".

• Website LSZ Impact 26.05.2025

Carolin has been invited as a speaker by Dr. Johnny Kim, the cluster spokesperson of curATime and representative of TRON gGmbH, to take part in a seminar series in Mainz as part of the curATime Cluster for Future.

• Website curATime 15.05.2025

For one year now, cardiologist Prof. Dr. Carolin Lerchenmüller has been leading the newly established Chair for Gender Medicine at the University of Zurich – the first of its kind in Switzerland. In this SRF radio interview, she talks about the importance of gender-sensitive medicine, the growing interest among students, and the potential for more individualized patient care.

• SRF Radio Interview 12.05.2025

As part of the two-day 1st Masterclass Cardiovascular Prevention, Prof. Dr. Carolin Lerchenmüller served as chair of one of the scientific sessions. Together with renowned national and international experts, current developments and strategies for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases were discussed in an interdisciplinary setting.

• Programme Masterclass 9-10.05.2025

Carolin Lerchenmüller would prefer a different term for what she does: approaching medicine from a perspective that takes gender differences into account. What follows is an engaging conversation about biases and progress.

• Podcast "Meyer trifft Mediziner:in" 14.04.2025

Carolin delivered a keynote on “The Importance of Sex and Gender Differences in Medicine,” emphasizing the need to give greater consideration to gender-specific aspects in research, education, and clinical practice.

• Website Future Health Basel 07.04.2025

Carolin opened the panel "The Future of Women’s Health" at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam with a keynote speech on the importance of gender medicine in research and clinical practice.

• Website HPI Digital Health Innovation Forum 26.03.2025

In the latest edition of the Female Shift newsletter, our Gender Medicine team and the key focus of our activities are presented.

• Female Shift Newsletter 24.03.2025

Carolin was interviewed for an article in Bunte Gendermedizin about Gender Medicine. The focus of the article is on how medical treatments that once primarily considered men as the standard are now evolving.

• Bunte Article Download 13.03.2025 (PDF, 1 MB)

On March 15th, Carolin delivered at UZH her inaugural lecture titled "From Basic Science to Global Health – Why do we need Gender Medicine?". She highlighted the critical role of gender-specific research in advancing medical science and improving healthcare for all.

• Inaugural Lecture Video 15.03.2025

Carolin was a keynote speaker at the Advance event, delivering an insightful talk titled "Equity in Health Care: Why Gender Medicine Matters."

• Carolin's talk on Vimeo 07.03.2025

As a speaker at the 2025 Medical Congress in Davos, Carolin provided valuable insights into gender medicine and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue.

• Website Lunge Zürich 06-08.02.2025

How important is mentoring in medicine, especially in cardiology? What role does it play in career development, and how can one find the right mentor? In the 22nd episode of KardioBeat, Prof. Dr. David Duncker talks with Prof. Dr. Carolin Lerchenmüller about her experiences and insights in the field of mentoring.

• KardioBeat Podcast 06.02.2025

Carolin became an invited member of the Gender Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology dedicated to tackling gender equity across the whole spectrum from patients to health care workforce.

• Website ESC Gender Task Force February 2025

“Gender medicine is not just a matter of equal opportunities, but a necessity.” Carolin Lerchenmüller explains why it is necessary to consider the composition of the leadership team, and why there is a sense of new beginnings in Switzerland.

• Spectra Interview February 2025

Gender medicine specialist Carolin Lerchenmüller delivered an engaging talk on “Why is Gender Medicine Needed?” at the UZH Welcome Day, where over 150 new employees were welcomed and introduced to the university

• UZH Welcome Day LinkedIn Post

Carolin was invited to speak about the protective effects of exercise on the heart. This conference marked the first event our young team attended together, making it a significant milestone for the Chair.

• Website LSG2 14.01.2025

Despite living longer than men, women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health. Health burdens have a heavy impact on women’s lives, with ripple effects for broader society.

• WEF LinkedIn Post 01.2025

"What is a big myth about the female body?" – "That it is a small man." The first professor of gender medicine in Switzerland explains what the bikini syndrome is, why women change their behavior when visiting the doctor, and where men receive incorrect treatment.

• Das Magazin 06.12.2024 (in German)

1st year Medical Students: Introduction and Basics of Gendermedicine
4th year Medical Students: Clinical Relevance of Sex- and Gender-Aspects in Medicine

Bridging Disciplines – Advancing Sex and Gender-Related Research within Biomedicine: Carolin delivered a talk on the importance of Gender Medicine from both a national and international perspective.

• LAKOG Website 29.11.2024

Carolin Lerchenmüller is the Professor of Gender Medicine in Zurich. She is also a founding member of the Women in Cardiology group of the German Cardiac Society. In this interview, she talks about her career path and the challenges she faced as a woman in academic medicine.

• Video Success in Cardiology 24.11.2024

Carolin Lerchenmüller talked about Gender Equity as the Basis for Excellence in Health Care in this DZHK Science of Friday Series dedicated to Sex and Gender in Cardiovascular Disease.

• DZHK Website 22.11.2024

Carolin was invited to give a talk for the lecture series Diversity Medicine at the Ruhr Uni Bochum.

• Ringvorlesungen RUB 08.11.2024

Carolin participated in the Networking Event of Medical Women Switzerland to talk about the need for Gender-sensitive Medicine.

• LinkedIn Post Constanze Elfgen 14.11.2024

Carolin discussed the need for Gender Medicine, using heart failure as a case study.

• Charité Website 04.11.2024

Carolin was invited as a speaker to one of CTEC's webinars.

• CTEC Homepage 01.11.2024

Carolin has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Business and as one of four UZH professors to receive this honor. The Women in Business jury has selected women “who, in our view, reflect the broad and impressive spectrum of high-achieving professionals in Switzerland.

• Women in Business LinkedIn Post 11.2024

Women's hearts beat differently - Heart diseases often present differently in women than in men. This makes diagnosis more difficult, but not impossible.

• Der Beobachter 31.10.2024

Professor Lerchenmüller's goal is to integrate gender medicine as a cross-disciplinary subject into every medical specialization, especially since half of the population consists of women, who are still rarely included in clinical studies.

• Medical Women Website 17.10.2024

Caroline was invited to give a talk on Gender Equity in the Cardiovascular Research and Clinical Workforce

• WIC Webseite 07.10.2024

Switzerland now has a Professor of Gender Medicine and she’s here to stay. Carolin Lerchenmüller says it will take time to fully understand how and why women react differently to some diseases and treatments - but adds that that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

• SwissInfo Science 20.09.2024
• SwissInfo YT Video

Carolin gave the concluding remarks at the Forum for Sex and Gender in Medicine hosted by Universität Luzern and participated at the foundation for the Swiss Society for Gender Health.
This event celebrated the conclusion of the swissuniversities project, which focused on integrating gender medicine into medical and health curricula.

• LinkedIn Post Jeanne Moor 10.09.2024
• Website SSGH

Carolin attended the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in London and gave an invited talk about the protective power of exercise on cardiovascular health.

• Website ESC Congress 01.09.2024

Prof. Dr. med. Carolin Lerchenmüller provided the participants of the Aiming Higher – Career Development for Female Resident Doctors program at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) with valuable insights into gender medicine and equal opportunities.

• LinkedIn Post Aiming Higher HSG 23.08.2024

Carolin Lerchenmüller opened the conference "Gender Medicine and Public Health: A Plus for Overall Health" yesterday. The conference focused on the reciprocal influence of biological and sociocultural aspects in the medical context, explored biological and gender-specific differences, and examined measures to fully harness the potential of gender medicine.

• The Swiss Society for Public Health LinkedIn Post 08.2024

The topic of the talk was "From Cardioprotection to Gender Medicine".

Everyone Has the Right to Equally Good Treatment - In May of this year, Carolin Lerchenmüller took over the first Chair for Gender Medicine in Switzerland. In an interview with Leading Opinions Wochenbulletin, the cardiologist shares her plans for the future.

• Universimed Interview 21.06.2024

The cardiologist Carolin Lerchenmüller is the first professor of gender medicine in Switzerland. She criticizes: For decades, medicine has been a science by men, about men, for men. Gender medicine aims to change that—and in doing so, saves lives.

• SRF Tagesgespräch 13.06.2024

Cardiologist Carolin Lerchenmüller is the first professor of gender medicine in Switzerland. In the Talk im Turm, she discussed gender medicine and its importance with Beatrice Beck Schimmer, Director of University Medicine Zurich (UMZH).

• UZH Alumni News 06.06.2024
• Podcast Talk in Turm: Gesunde Frauen, gesunde Männer

Despite significant advances in medicine and healthcare, gender differences in medical care remain a reality that we cannot ignore. This is particularly evident in women's health, where, despite a longer life expectancy, overall health outcomes are often poorer.

• Roche Stories 06.2024

UZH has taken a step towards understanding and addressing the unique health needs of both women and men with the establishment of Switzerland's inaugural professorial chair in gender medicine. This initiative aims to rectify the historical lack of research attention given to sex- and gender-specific causes and symptoms of illnesses.

• UZH LinkedIn Post 05.2024

Women and men experience illness differently. Gender medicine aims to better understand these differences and integrate the findings into patient care and medical education. In May 2024, Carolin Lerchenmüller assumed the position as Switzerland’s first professor of gender medicine.

• UZH Foundation Article 05.2024

Many illnesses have sex- and gender-specific causes and symptoms, many of which have received little research attention thus far. That, however, is about to change. UZH has established the first professorial chair in gender medicine in Switzerland to advance research in this field.

• UZH Magazine Article in English 02.04.2024
• UZH Magazine Article in German 18.03.2024

First Professor of Gender Medicine in Switzerland: "Male scientists have focused on topics that affected men". In an interview, Carolin Lerchenmüller criticizes the lack of awareness in many areas of medicine regarding how significant the differences between male and female bodies can be.

• Neue Zürcher Zeitung 30.03.2024

The latest advancements in the Gender Medicine project include the approval of the National Research Program for Gender Medicine and Health, as well as the establishment of the first Chair for Gender Medicine at the University of Zurich (UZH), led by Prof. Dr. Carolin Lerchenmüller starting in May 2024.

• Female Shift Event Highlights 04.12.2023

An international team at the University Hospital Heidelberg investigated whether the heart can be rejuvenated through an exercise program – and discovered that the heart is far more capable of regenerating than previously thought. Physician Carolin Lerchenmüller explains what everyone can do for heart health.

• GEO 14.03.2023

Before the pandemic, both genders were almost equally likely to be first authors of studies in Covid-relevant areas. Then, the gap widened. Physician Carolin Lerchenmüller explains why our hearts are more adaptable than we thought – and how we can use this for our health.

• Forschung und Lehre 08.10.2021

The Amazing Ability of the Heart to Rejuvenate Itself: Physician Carolin Lerchenmüller explains why our hearts are more adaptable than we thought – and how we can use this for our health.

• Spiegel Wissenschaft 03.10.2022

In its 120-year history, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to women exactly 59 times. Physician Carolin Lerchenmüller explains why this is the case and what needs to be done to ensure that women receive more recognition in research in the future.

• SRF 4 News Aktuell 15.10.2021

Overall, women do not seem to suffer more from the pandemic than men – except when they are well-educated and, for example, work in science.

• Frankfurter Allgemeine 17.09.2021

Active mice make more than four times as many new heart muscle cells, study says.

• The Harvard Gazette 28.04.2018