The Fannie E. Rippel Foundation recently bestowed BWH with a substantial grant to support a new program in Women’s Health Policy and Advocacy. The program will be launched in Fall 2003 with the mission to influence policy at all levels – institutional, local, and national – and to promote the highest standard of health and health care for all women. Building on BWH’s strengths as a direct provider of care to thousands of women, a pioneer of research in women’s health, and a leader in academic medicine, the initiative will work to influence vital current and emerging policy issues. Activities will include raising awareness of critical issues affecting the health of women among health system stakeholders and key policymakers, collaborating with outside organizations addressing women’s health policy, and actively participating in the public policy debates that affect the health of women. At the same time, the program will develop processes for institutional leadership and change within an academic medical center to support the promotion and delivery of care to women.