Why Didn't I Know This?

In 2017, Dhikshitha Balaji, Class of ’18, began her fellowship with Women’s Health Research at Yale. Not long into her fellowship, Balaji kept asking herself the same question over and over again: “Why didn’t I know this?” She was shocked when she learned of the historical lack of sex-and-gender-specific research and was inspired to get the word out by starting a student-led blog. The blog — fittingly titled “Why Didn’t I Know This?” — focuses on how WHRY and others are narrowing that gap.

Suyeon Hong, Class of ’20, took over the blog for the 2018-19 school year, followed by Anjali Walia, Class of ’21, and Ke'ala Akau, Class of ’22. This year, Ke’ala has passed the torch to a pair of new students on the team: Margaret Hankins and Gillian Clouser.

Margaret (left) is a sophomore at Trumbull College planning to major in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. Gillian (right) is a junior at Timothy Dwight College studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Anthropology. Together, they are offering their personal perspectives on the latest in women’s health issues, and thoughts on advancing both policies and practices to help the health of women.