New partnership for gender-sensitive medicine starts in Potsdam!

New partnership for gender-sensitive medicine starts in Potsdam!

On June 16, 2025, the Brandenburg Theodor Fontane Medical School (MHB) launched an important partnership with the Working Group for Gender-Equal Health Care e.V. (G3). This cooperation, which was officially launched at the Alexianer St. Josefs Hospital in Potsdam, has the ambitious goal of integrating gender-specific differences in research, teaching and medical care. Professor Dr. Irene Hinterseher from the MHB commented on the problem that there is a lack of adequate therapeutic approaches, especially for women. The new initiative aims to ensure safe, individual and evidence-based healthcare regardless of gender.

The partnership received support from Vice President of the State Parliament Dr. Jouleen Gruhn and Theresa Pauli from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Integration and Consumer Protection (MSGIV). A central aspect of the cooperation is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize healthcare. G3 also highlights the problem of the gender data gap, which underrepresents women and other marginalized groups in medical research.

The gender data gap and its consequences

Antonella Lorenz from G3 warned that a lack of data could further widen the gaps in care. The gender data gap is an urgent problem that is repeatedly raised in medical research. Many clinical studies disproportionately include men and often leave out intersex people and subgroups of women. As a result, there is a lack of evidence for gender-sensitive treatment in many indications, although differences between the sexes in physiology are well known. This was also emphasized by the federal government in its funding measure to reduce the gender data gap. The measure specifically promotes the consideration of gender-sensitive aspects in clinical research.

The structure of this funding measure includes four modules that aim at different approaches to improving the data situation. This includes, among other things, the promotion of systematic reviews and exploratory post-hoc analyzes to evaluate existing data. In addition, research questions in gender-sensitive therapy should be identified and prioritized.

Diverse expertise and personal encounters

The kick-off event for the cooperation offered a forum for personal exchange among around 50 participants from the fields of medicine, research and politics. In addition to lectures on important topics in gender-equitable medicine, appointed experts such as Dr. med. Elpiniki Katsari and Prof. Dr. Bettina Pfleiderer was introduced, who spoke about patient-specific needs and the integration of gender aspects into teaching. Dr. Viyan Sido gave an insight into the gender outpatient clinic in the Bernau Heart Center.

Annegret Hofmann, one of the co-founders of G3, was made an honorary member of the association, while Georgia Fehl took over as chairman. Alexander Mommert from Alexianer St. Josef Potsdam GmbH was honored as host of the event. The initiative aims to anchor the foundations for gender-sensitive medicine not only in the range of services offered by clinics, but also in the training of future doctors.

For further information about the G3 initiative and its goals, the organization's website is available. This partnership is a step in the right direction to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender, can receive high-quality healthcare.