'Tireless campaigner' for women's health awarded honorary doctorate
A GP described as ‘the medic who kick-started the menopause revolution’ has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bradford as part of its summer 2024 graduation ceremonies.
Dr Louise Newson - a member of the Government’s Menopause Taskforce, award-winning doctor, educator and author received her award in recognition of her national and international contribution to women’s health, education, training and her inspirational approach to raising awareness of menopause.
Louise, who regularly appears in the media as a menopause expert, has been working alongside Professor Julie Thornton, Director of the Centre for Skin Sciences at the University, playing a significant role in helping to secure funding for the University for research into the impact menopause and HRT on the skin microbiome. Presenting Louise for her award, Professor Thornton said: “Louise is passionate about improving women’s health and understanding the impact of hormones in disease prevention and maintenance of future health.
For several years, Louise has campaigned tirelessly to increase recognition and understanding of the menopause, and here at the University of Bradford, we are extremely fortunate that she is collaborating with us.”
Her passion for women’s health led to her founding award-winning free menopause support app, Balance, which has had more than one million downloads to date as well as the Balance menopause website. She hosts the number one medical podcast in the UK - the Dr Louise Newson podcast - and developed a menopause education programme for health professionals which has been downloaded by over 33,000 clinicians globally. She said: “ The main drivers of my work are the people who I hear from, especially through my clinic and social media who are really struggling to have a voice, to be listened to, to be taken seriously and above all to receive the right treatment for them.
“Thank you so much to the University of Bradford for this award which I have accepted not just for me but for the thousands – or millions – of women (and men) who have benefited from my work growing knowledge of and access to menopause care.
“My work is not done in isolation. I work with and know many people in the UK and globally who both work with me and support me in different ways. These include friends, colleagues and mentors - many of my mentors do not realise how much they have taught me and helped me develop into the person that I am now.”