From left: Award-winning television journalist Liz Walker, former Mayor Thomas Menino, Paula Johnson, guest-of-honor Angela Menino and attorney and professor Anita Hill

Stress and its unique effect on women were the topics of conversation at this year’s Women’s Health Luncheon, hosted by the Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at BWH.

On May 19, more than 400 attendees gathered at the InterContinental Boston for the ninth annual luncheon, which was called “Demystifying Stress: An Integrated Approach for Women,” to learn about the importance of sex-specific research for the benefit of women and men. Executive Director of the Connors Center Paula Johnson, MD, MPH, welcomed guests and introduced the topic of stress and its specific impact on women. She then moderated a discussion with BWH’s Martin Samuels, MD, founding chair of the Department of Neurology, and Helene Langevin, MD, CM, director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.

Speakers shared how internalizing chronic stress can lead to health problems, such as back pain, sleep disruption and stroke, as well as strategies for women to manage stress through yoga, massage and acupuncture. The luncheon honored former First Lady of Boston and honorary event chair Angela Menino, a long-time champion of women’s health. Guests also viewed a video greeting from BWH President Betsy Nabel, MD, who reinforced the importance of sex-specific research and implored attendees to advance this critical work.