The Martignetti Award in Women’s Health

The Martignetti Award in Women’s Health was established in 2010 through the generosity of Beth and Carmine Martignetti. The award provides support for Connors Center investigators conducting research projects that advance women’s health.

Current Awardee

Samantha Meints, PhD
Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School
Pain Psychologist, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Understanding and addressing pain-related stigma among women with chronic pelvic pain

Women with chronic pelvic pain are at risk for experiencing high levels of stigma related to their pain because it is difficult to understand and treat. Stigma can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and worse treatment outcomes. We are proposing a study to better understand the experience of pain-related stigma in women with chronic pelvic pain including how that stigma influences their mental health and their pain. Results of this study will be used to develop multi-level strategies (i.e., at the patient, provider, and system level) to reduce the impact of stigma for women with chronic pelvic pain.

Previous Awardees

Jessica Harder, MD
Instructor, Harvard Medical School
Neuropsychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
“Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their relationship on mood and cognitive functioning in women”

Jamie Coborn, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School
Shadab Rahman, PhD, MPH
Lead Investigator, Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
“Effects of sleep and hormones on body weight and activity in women and men”