A Century of Prevention
For more than 100 years, AMWA has played a national role in improving the health of women and families—from early partnerships with women’s clubs and public health departments in the 1920s to today’s mission-driven work in chronic disease prevention and health promotion.
AMWA promotes the value of preventive health by leading initiatives in nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and sleep. The aim is to advance evidence-based strategies that encourage individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and optimize well-being. Through education and communications strategies, AMWA highlights the critical role of lifestyle in overall health, ensuring that women’s health and wellness remain central to medical practice and public health efforts.
History of the Preventive Medicine Task Force (2014-2018)
Under the leadership of President Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla, the Preventive Medicine Task Force (PMTF) led multi-year efforts across: cardiovascular disease prevention, obesity, nutrition, and hyperlipidemia, physical activity and wellness, HPV and cervical cancer, osteoarthritis, pulmonary, allergy, and immunology, and more. The PMTF also developed an android Preventive Medicine App which enabled users to easily find trusted health programs and resources. AMWA aligned with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on national messaging around well-being, chronic disease prevention, and mental health.
Current AMWA Initiatives
Nutrition & Medicine
Food is foundational to health.
AMWA promotes evidence-based nutrition through:
- “Food as Medicine” education for clinicians
- Nutrition integration across AMWA conferences
- Addressing food insecurity and social determinants of health
Goal: Build a healthcare culture where nutrition is recognized as a core component of care.
Lifestyle Medicine
AMWA supports a whole-person approach to preventing chronic disease, emphasizing:
- Physical activity
- Mental & emotional well-being
- Social connection
- Avoidance of risky substances
- Health equity across populations
Prevention starts with daily habits — and the systems that support them.
Sleep Health
Sleep is the foundation of well-being. AMWA works to:
- Elevate sleep as a vital sign
- Partner with the National Sleep Foundation for Sleep Awareness Week®
- Highlight sex & gender differences in sleep
- Educate clinicians on sleep’s impact on cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health
- Raise awareness of the importance of sleep among medical professionals and trainees
Better sleep = better health for physicians, patients, and communities.
Why Prevention Matters
Chronic disease drives nearly 90% of U.S. healthcare costs. Many conditions—including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, dementia, and certain cancers—are influenced by lifestyle, environment, and early intervention.
Prevention improves health outcomes, reduces disparities, and strengthens communities.
AMWA is committed to shifting healthcare from only treating disease to strengthening prevention at every stage of life.