Feinberg alumna talks women’s health

Half practicing gynecologist and half life coach, Dr. Lissa Rankin is a woman determined to bring out the best in all women.

She spoke Monday night at Northwestern during the first stop of a book tour on subjects usually taboo: vaginas and what to do with them. Rankin stressed the need to get in touch with what she called the "portal of life and the divine femininity."

Rankin is a Feinberg School of Medicine alumna and author of the book "What's Up Down There: Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend."

Her own experiences as a gynecologist drove her to try to connect with women outside of Pap smears and office visits in a way that was "empowering, educational and fun." In particular, she spoke of her past patients and how she helped them cope with their unhappiness.

"I went to see Mildred, who politely shook my hand," said Rankin, reading a passage of her book about an old patient. "‘Oh, hi, Doc,' she said. ‘Let me get 'er ready for ya, sweetie.' She then proceeded to pull down her pants and begin yanking things out of her vagina like it was Mary Poppins' magic carpet bag.... There was a plastic baggie of pills, a wad of bills, a tube of lipstick, a pen.... It's tempting to laugh when gynecologists tell vagina stories, but sitting in that room with Mildred, I realized that something tragic probably happened that made Mildred think using her vagina as a handbag was a good idea. My heart filled with compassion for her, and when I asked her flat out whether she had a history of sexual abuse, she put her head on my chest and cried like the 8-year-old she was when she was first violated."

Lisa Currie, director of Health Promotion & Wellness on campus, helped bring Rankin to NU so students could learn from stories like Mildred's.

"We hope to promote healthy sexuality on campus," Currie said. "And Dr. Rankin's message fits beautifully with that goal."

The event was co-sponsored by Health Promotion & Wellness, Women's Center, College Feminists, Sexual Health and Assault Peer Educators and NU Panhellenic Association.

Though Rankin's message focuses on the female anatomy, the central theme of her lecture was universal: "Practice love with a little bit of medicine on the side."

tomzhao2014@u.northwestern.edu