I’m Danielle Howe (she/her), a PhD Candidate at the NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University. I’m a public health and social policy researcher. My research interests are in improving inclusive menstrual literacy; as well as improving health and wellbeing outcomes for people with reproductive and/or chronic health conditions. I’m particularly interested in understanding how gender-related health inequities intersect aspects of our lives and systemically reinforce gender inequity. 

My doctoral research, the Endo@Work project, explores how organisational systems and employer practices can better support people living with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. The goal of Endo@Work is to develop (through co-design), implement and evaluate a set of evidence-based guidelines, including workplace policy, processes and education materials that improve workplace inclusion, wellbeing, and productivity.

I hold a Master of Science from the University of Edinburgh in Global Health and Public policy and a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University. Prior to my PhD work, I worked for nearly a decade in community development. Where I worked in Program Monitoring and Evaluation across Canada, UK, Australia, The Gambia, Sierra Leonne, Togo, Zambia, Palestine, Bangladesh. Through this work, I maintained a special interest in developing and integrating inclusive menstrual and gynaecological health education initiatives into wider community public health, education & primary prevention of gender-based-violence programs.  

I care deeply about menstrual and public health as drivers for gender equity. Especially focusing on how we can shift systems to better support people whose health needs have historically been ignored or misunderstood.