Science Café
The influence of sex and gender on health and medical treatment. With Prof. Jeanine Roeters van Lennep
We often assume that medical knowledge is neutral: what works for one person works for another. But the reality is more complex. In healthcare, both biological sex differences and social gender roles play a major role—and that has direct consequences for diagnosis, treatment, and health. During this lecture, Jeanine Roeters van Lennep, an internist and expert in the field of sex, gender, and health, will show how these differences arise and why they matter.
Cardiovascular disease is a striking example. While the image of the “typical heart patient” is still male, women are affected just as often—but with different symptoms, different risk profiles, and sometimes different underlying causes and treatment needs. As a result, signs in women are more often missed or misinterpreted. Roeters van Lennep discusses why this happens, which misconceptions persist, and what the latest insights mean for clinical practice.
The story goes beyond biology alone. Gender—the expectations, roles, and behaviors we associate with men and women—influences how people describe their symptoms, how doctors interpret them, and how healthcare systems are organized. This creates a subtle but persistent difference in care outcomes. The lecture highlights the importance of recognizing and breaking through these blind spots.
Jeanine Roeters van Lennep is an internist in vascular medicine and Professor of Cardiovascular Health with a focus on sex-specific factors at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. She is co-director of the Netherlands Women’s Health Research and Innovation Centre, where she works toward better knowledge, better care, and better prevention for women. For her work in gender-sensitive medicine, she received the Corrie Hermann Prize from the Dutch Association of Female Physicians.
She is the co-author of the books *Het vrouwenhart begeerd en minder miskend* and *Het Vrouwenhart – van ischemie naar preventie*, in which she makes scientific insights about the female heart accessible to a broad audience. Through her research, teaching, and public appearances, she works tirelessly to make healthcare more inclusive and effective.
Live music will be provided by Dubio, and the moderator is Christa Hooijer.
