Episodes

  • 1993: The Year Women Entered Clinical Trials & Why This Matters for Human Health (With Jessica Federer)

    1993: The Year Women Entered Clinical Trials & Why This Matters for Human Health (With Jessica Federer)
    Apr 23 2026

    What happened in 1993 still affects medicine today. That was the year women were required to be included in NIH-funded clinical trials, a shift that helped begin correcting decades of male-centered medical research. In this powerful conversation, Sharon Kedar CFA sits down with Jessica Federer, former Chief Digital Officer at Bayer and Managing Director of The Women’s Health Fund, to explore why this moment matters not only for women’s health, but for human health, innovation, and the future of medicine.

    They discuss how exclusion from research shaped diagnostics, drug dosing, autoimmune disease, heart health, cancer care, and why one of the world’s largest multi-trillion dollar industries still has enormous opportunity ahead.

    This Episode Is For You If:

    - You want to understand why women’s health impacts everyone

    - You’re curious how clinical trials shape modern medicine

    - You care about innovation, investing, longevity, and better healthcare outcomes

    What You’ll Learn:

    - Why women were historically excluded from many clinical trials

    - How 1993 changed medical research standards

    - Why better science creates better care for everyone

    Key Takeaways

    - Clinical research has historically relied heavily on male data, creating downstream gaps in care.

    - Including women in research improves diagnostics, treatment, safety, and outcomes across medicine.

    - Women’s health may be one of the greatest innovation opportunities of our time.

    Connect with Sharon:

    Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonkedar/

    Learn more about Innovate and Elevate: https:// innovateandelevatepodcast.com

    Subscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWi1O9RBaPMYuCkKszPYVA

    Join the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox: https://innovateandelevatepodcast.com/email

    Connect with Jessica Federer:

    - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjfeds

    - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicafederer

    - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessica.federer?_r=1&_t=ZP-95ZSDLDRyyF

    - YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jjfeds?si=bX8_ii-GccsfXHN8

    Organizations, resources and citations referenced:

    Bayer: https://www.bayer.com/en/

    National Institutes of Health (NIH): https://www.nih.gov/

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration: https://www.fda.gov/

    Jennifer Doudna: https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/jennifer-doudna

    The content shared in this episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or investment advice. Please seek guidance from your own qualified professionals before making decisions.

    Timestamps

    (00:00) Welcome Jessica Federer

    (00:50) Why Jessica cares deeply about women’s health

    (02:10) Why 1993 was a turning point in clinical trials

    (04:33) NIH rules requiring women in funded research

    (08:28) Why women spend more years in poorer health

    (12:08) Mammograms, heart disease, and missed opportunities

    (15:36) Why cancer treatment may look barbaric in hindsight

    (18:53) Why top talent is moving into women’s health

    (21:13) Autoimmune disease and the need for better systems

    (25:29) The next frontier: brain health and hormone science

    About Our Guest: Jessica Federer is a trailblazer and market builder. She was the first female chief digital Officer in the global pharmaceutical industry. She now sits on public and private boards, convenes the Health of Women Investor Summit and is the managing director of the Women’s Health Fund. She also serves on the Yale IRB and the Yale Blavatnik Fund advisory.

    About Sharon: Sharon Kedar is a co-founder and partner at Northpond Ventures, a multi-billion-dollar science-driven venture capital firm. Her extensive career includes leadership roles at Sands Capital and McKinsey & Company, and she is a published author on personal finance. As the host of the Innovate and Elevate podcast, she passionately advocates for menopause care and HRT (hormone replacement therapy), challenging the silence around human health XX (also known as women’s health). She aims to help women navigate midlife and achieve longevity by aging with power. Sharon holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a CFA charter holder. She lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband, Greg, their three kids, and their dog Bo.

    This podcast is produced by Brave Moon Podcasts: https://www.bravemoonpodcasts.com/
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    27 mins
  • Shapeshifting Human Health: One Medical’s 30 Year Journey with Former CEO Amir Dan Rubin

    Shapeshifting Human Health: One Medical’s 30 Year Journey with Former CEO Amir Dan Rubin
    Mar 26 2026
    What does it really take to build a healthcare company that lasts?In this episode of Innovate and Elevate, Sharon Kedar sits down with Amir Dan Rubin, former CEO of One Medical and Stanford Medicine, to unpack a 30-year journey of building in healthcare. From early ideas around telehealth in the 1990s to leading One Medical through its $3.9 billion acquisition by Amazon, Amir shares what most people misunderstand about innovation in human health.This conversation challenges the narrative of overnight success. Instead, it reveals that the most meaningful breakthroughs require duration, conviction, and the willingness to build long before the outcome is clear. Amir also shares how applying systems thinking from outside of healthcare shaped his leadership across multiple organizations and offers a blueprint for building companies that scale and endure.What You’ll Learn from this Episode:Building in healthcare is a long game measured in decades, not quartersThe real risk is not failure, but never finding out what could have beenSystems thinking from outside industries can unlock innovation in healthcareAs this episode highlights, success in healthcare often depends on:Time horizons measured in decadesCross-industry thinking and innovationOperational excellence and consistencyThe ability to persist through uncertaintyConnect with Sharon:Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonkedar/Learn more about Innovate and Elevate: https:// innovateandelevatepodcast.comSubscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWi1O9RBaPMYuCkKszPYVAJoin the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox: https://innovateandelevatepodcast.com/emailConnect with Amir Dan Rubin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirdanrubinHealthier Capital: https://www.healthiercapital.com/Organizations, resources and citations referenced:One Medical: https://www.onemedical.com/Amazon Deal with One Medical: https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/amazon-buy-one-medical-35-billion-deal-2022-07-21/The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-big-leap-gay-hendricksThe Toyota Way by Jeffrey K. Liker: https://www.mheducation.com/highered/mhp/product/toyota-way-second-edition-14-management-principles-world-s-greatest-manufacturer.htmlStanford Medicine: https://med.stanford.edu/UCLA Health: https://www.uclahealth.org/The content shared in this episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or investment advice. Please seek guidance from your own qualified professionals before making decisions.Chapters:(00:00) What this episode reveals about building in healthcare(02:45) Early ideas around telehealth in the 1990s(05:57) Why timing and market readiness matter(07:26) Long-term thinking in healthcare innovation(10:48) Building before the outcome is clear(15:30) Lessons from industries outside healthcare(20:10) Systems thinking and operational excellence(25:45) Scaling One Medical(30:00) The real challenges of building in healthcare(34:00) What it really takes to win in human healthAbout Our Guest: Amir Dan Rubin is a healthcare executive and entrepreneur known for building and scaling innovative care delivery models. He is the former CEO of One Medical, where he led the company through rapid growth, its IPO, and its $3.9 billion acquisition by Amazon. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Stanford Health Care and held leadership roles at UCLA Health, Optum, and Stony Brook University Health System. Across his career, Amir has focused on improving access, experience, and outcomes in healthcare by applying systems thinking and technology. He is currently the founder and managing partner of Healthier Capital.About Sharon: Sharon Kedar is a co-founder and partner at Northpond Ventures, a multi-billion-dollar science-driven venture capital firm. Her extensive career includes leadership roles at Sands Capital and McKinsey & Company, and she is a published author on personal finance. As the host of the Innovate and Elevate podcast, she passionately advocates for menopause care and HRT (hormone replacement therapy), challenging the silence around human health XX (also known as women’s health). She aims to help women navigate midlife and achieve longevity by aging with power. Sharon holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a CFA charter holder. She lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband, Greg, their three kids, and their dog Bo.This podcast is produced by Brave Moon Podcasts.
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    33 mins
  • Redefining Risk with Dr. Michael Rubin: On Entrepreneurship, Career Decisions, and Building Venture Capital in Human Health

    Redefining Risk with Dr. Michael Rubin: On Entrepreneurship, Career Decisions, and Building Venture Capital in Human Health
    Feb 12 2026
    In the opening episode of Season 3, host Sharon Kedar speaks with Dr. Mike Rubin about following scientific curiosity across disciplines. Mike reflects on his early training in medicine, his decision to leave clinical practice, and how that transition led him into science-driven venture capital.Rather than framing career change as failure, this conversation examines coherence, preparation, and self-trust as essential components of innovation. Listeners gain practical context for how scientific thinking, uncertainty, and long-term discipline shape entrepreneurship and investment in human health.What You’ll Learn from this Episode:Why non-linear career paths are common in science and innovation — and how coherence matters more than linear progressionHow scientific training informs risk assessment, preparation, and decision-making in venture capitalWhy acknowledging uncertainty and saying “I don’t know” is often the starting point for meaningful discoveryThe content shared in this episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or investment advice. Please seek guidance from your own qualified professionals before making decisions.Topics Covered in This EpisodeScience-driven venture capital and long-term thinkingTransitioning from clinical medicine to investingNon-linear careers in science and entrepreneurshipPreparation, discipline, and showing up without a playbookRisk reframed as discovery rather than failureInnovation grounded in scientific uncertaintyBuilding ecosystems that support human health researchConnect with Sharon:Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonkedar/Learn more about Innovate and Elevate: https:// innovateandelevatepodcast.comSubscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWi1O9RBaPMYuCkKszPYVAJoin the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox: https://innovateandelevatepodcast.com/emailConnect with Dr. Mike Rubin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mprubin/Learn more about Northpond Ventures: Website: https://www.npv.vc/LinkedIn Northpond Ventures: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northpond-ventures/Organizations and guidelines referenced:Northpond Ventures: https://www.npv.vc/Sands Capital: https://www.sandscapital.com/Harvard University: https://www.harvard.edu/MIT: https://www.mit.edu/Stanford University: https://www.stanford.edu/Chapters:(00:00:41) Early Curiosity and a Passion for Science(00:02:38) Creating a Bioelectrical Engineering Major(00:03:46) Leaving Medicine at 32: A Defining Career Decision(00:06:31) From Public Markets to Venture Capital(00:10:16) The First Investment and Founding a Venture Firm(00:12:21) Redefining Risk: The Fear of Not Trying(00:14:03) Building in 2008: Opportunity in a Market Downturn(00:15:37) Showing Up and Being Prepared: The Venture Capital Edge(00:20:43) The Northpond Thesis: Science, Alignment, and Impact(00:29:08) Amplifying the Signal Within and the Power of “I Don’t Know”About Our Guest: Dr. Mike Rubin is a science-driven investor and Founder of Northpond Ventures. Trained as a physician and surgeon, he transitioned from clinical medicine into venture capital, where he focuses on translating scientific discovery into real-world impact through entrepreneurship.About Sharon: Sharon Kedar is Co-Founder at Northpond Ventures, a multi-billion-dollar science-driven venture capital firm. Her extensive career includes leadership roles at Sands Capital and McKinsey & Company, and she is a published author on personal finance. As the host of the Innovate and Elevate podcast, she passionately advocates for menopause care and HRT (hormone replacement therapy), challenging the silence around human health XX (also known as women’s health). She aims to help women navigate midlife and achieve longevity by aging with power. Sharon holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a CFA charter holder. She lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband, Greg, their three kids, and their dog Bo.This podcast is produced by Brave Moon Podcasts: https://www.bravemoonpodcasts.com/
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    33 mins
  • Building a Better Menopause System: Insights from One Medical’s Dr. Erin Duralde

    Building a Better Menopause System: Insights from One Medical’s Dr. Erin Duralde
    Dec 18 2025

    On this episode of Innovate & Elevate, Sharon speaks with Dr. Erin Duralde, Medical Director for Women’s Health and Menopause Care at One Medical, about a question that keeps coming up in midlife healthcare: now that we know more, where do people actually go for menopause care?

    Recorded shortly after the FDA removed the long-standing black box warning on estrogen therapies, this conversation explores how menopause and perimenopause care can be integrated into primary care, what a modern menopause visit should look like, and how clinicians can better listen to symptoms, history, and lived experience to guide care.

    What You’ll Learn from this Episode:

    1. How Dr. Duralde’s early work as a patient advocate at the UCSF Breast Care Center shaped her approach to menopause care and clinical decision-making
    2. Why menopause education was largely missing from medical training following misinterpretations of the Women’s Health Initiative, and how that legacy still affects care today
    3. What patients can expect from a dedicated menopause or perimenopause visit at One Medical
    4. How intake surveys and symptom tracking help clinicians better understand what matters most to each patient
    5. The wide range of symptoms that can appear during perimenopause, beyond hot flashes and night sweats
    6. How clinicians think through treatment options in perimenopause, including hormonal and non-hormonal approaches
    7. The difference between menopausal hormone therapy and combined hormonal contraception, and why timing and symptoms matter
    8. How testosterone is used in post-menopause, why dosing matters, and how safety is monitored
    9. How primary care providers are being trained at scale to deliver evidence-based menopause care

    As always, nothing in this episode is personal medical advice. Please talk with your own clinician about your individual history, risks, and options.

    Connect with Sharon:

    1. On LinkedIn
    2. On Instagram
    3. Learn more about the Innovate and Elevate podcast
    4. Subscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTube
    5. Join the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox

    Connect with Dr. Erin Duralde MD MPH MSCP

    1. On
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    21 mins
  • 8 Days After the FDA: Breaking Down HRT and Breast Cancer Risk with Dr. Corinne Menn

    8 Days After the FDA: Breaking Down HRT and Breast Cancer Risk with Dr. Corinne Menn
    Nov 26 2025

    On this episode of Innovate & Elevate, Sharon sits down with Dr. Corinne Menn, an OB-GYN, menopause specialist, and breast cancer survivor, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s health: the relationship between breast cancer risk and hormone therapy. Recorded eight days after the FDA announced it will remove the long-standing black box language on hormone therapy, this conversation traces the legacy of the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative press conference, what the data actually showed, and how modern evidence can better guide women and their clinicians today.

    What You’ll Learn from this Episode:

    • What really happened in July 2002, and why the WHI press conference (held eight days before doctors saw the full study) reshaped hormone therapy for a generation.
    • The difference between estrogen alone and combined estrogen–progestin therapy, and why age, timing, and formulation matter.
    • Why every major professional society (ASCO, ACOG, American Urological Association, The Menopause Society) agrees that local, low-dose vaginal hormones do not increase breast cancer risk, recurrence, or mortality.
    • The role of tools like the Tyrer–Cuzick breast cancer risk model in understanding your baseline risk - and how Dr. Menn interprets those results in the context of HRT.
    • Dr. Menn’s own story: being diagnosed with ER/PR-positive breast cancer at 28 during OB-GYN residency, going through abrupt menopause, and later discovering a BRCA2 mutation after updated genetic testing
    • How she now counsels breast cancer survivors about menopause, quality of life, and when hormone therapy may or may not be appropriate
    • Practical ways women can prepare for a time-limited doctor’s visit to have more informed, individualized conversations about breast cancer risk and hormone therapy

    As always, nothing in this episode is personal medical advice. Please talk with your own clinician about your individual history, risks, and options.

    Connect with Sharon:

    • On LinkedIn
    • On Instagram
    • Learn more about the Innovate and Elevate podcast
    • Subscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTube
    • Join the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox

    Connect with Dr. Corinne Menn:

    • On LinkedIn
    • On Instagram
    • Learn more on her website

    Breast Cancer Risk Models & Screening Tools:

    Tyrer–Cuzick (IBIS) Breast Cancer Risk Model - https://ems-trials.org/riskevaluator/

    Gail Model (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool) - https://bcrisktool.cancer.gov

    POSITIVE Trial – New England Journal of Medicine - https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2215851

    Hormone Therapy, Menopause Guidelines & Professional Societies:

    The...
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    43 mins
  • Special Episode with Dr. Kelly Casperson on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

    Special Episode with Dr. Kelly Casperson on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
    Nov 13 2025

    Why do only 5% of women in America use hormone therapy today, when so many did just two decades ago? In this special live episode, host Sharon Kedar sits down with Dr. Kelly Casperson, urologist, author, and leading voice in women’s health, to unpack the truth about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — and how one misleading press release in 2002 changed everything.

    Dr. Casperson explains what really happened with the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, how the fear around hormones took root, and why it’s time to write the new narrative. Together, Sharon and Kelly discuss estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — what they do, who they help, and how new FDA attention may finally mark a turning point.

    From brain fog to bone density, motivation to longevity, this conversation breaks down myths and builds hope for the next generation of women — and the doctors who care for them.

    What You’ll Learn from this Episode:

    • The 2002 Study That Changed Everything: How the Women’s Health Initiative was misinterpreted — and why a misleading press release reshaped women’s health for decades.
    • The Truth About Hormones: Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are made naturally by the body — and modern therapies are safer, smarter, and more personalized than ever before.
    • Longevity and Prevention: Hormones don’t just treat symptoms — they can protect your bones, brain, and heart, helping women live longer, healthier lives.
    • The Next Generation of Change: From Gen X to Millennials, women are demanding better care, better education, and better science.

    Connect with Sharon:

    • On LinkedIn
    • On Instagram
    • Learn more about the Innovate and Elevate podcast
    • Subscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTube
    • Join the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox

    Connect with Dr. Kelly Casperson:

    • On LinkedIn
    • On Instagram
    • Learn more on her website
    • Buy The Menopause Moment now

    Additional Resources:

    • The 2002 Women’s Health Initiative (JAMA)
    • FDA Menopause Panel Discussion (YouTube)
    • Dr. Casperson’s book: You Are Not Broken
    • Dr. Kelly Casperson Speaking at the FDA’s Announcement for Removing “Black Box” Warnings

    Skip to the Good Part:

    (0:00) Introduction: Sharon welcomes Dr. Kelly Casperson — live from the FDA Menopause Panel

    (3:00) The emotional power of restoring hormones — “I’m not angry...
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    28 mins
  • Menopause is Hot with Joanna Strober, CEO of Midi Health

    Menopause is Hot with Joanna Strober, CEO of Midi Health
    Oct 14 2025
    What happens when a successful professional is dismissed by her doctor, given sleeping pills for severe perimenopause symptoms, and instead decides to launch a company to help change women's healthcare forever? In this conversation, host Sharon Kedar welcomes Midi Health’s CEO Joanna Strober, who shares her personal story of being dismissed by her doctor and her mission to fix the women's health crisis. Joanna and Sharon tackle the pervasive fear and misinformation about HRT and breast cancer. They reveal the truth and misinformation about the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study. Joanna details how Midi provides expert, insurance-covered care and is shifting the paradigm so women can proactively protect their bones, brain, and heart. This is an essential listen for any woman ready to age with power.What You’ll Learn from this Episode:The Care Crisis and Midi’s Solution: How Joanna's personal experience of being dismissed by doctors for symptoms like brain fog and anxiety led her to create Midi Health, a successful, insurance-covered virtual platform scaling expert care for midlife women.Dismantling HRT Fear: The truth about the 2002 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, revealing that there is zero correlation between taking estrogen and getting breast cancer (unless you have estrogen-positive breast cancer) and that women on the estrogen-only arm had a 30% less likelihood of breast cancer.Longevity and HRT: Why the golden time to start estrogen is during perimenopause or within 10 years of menopause, and how staying on it may be essential for long-term protection of your bones, brain, and heart.Connect with Sharon:On LinkedInOn InstagramLearn more about the Innovate and Elevate podcastSubscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTubeJoin the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inboxConnect with Joanna Strober:On LinkedInLearn more about Midi HealthAdditional Resources:The 2002 Women's Health Initiative Skip to the Good Part:(0:00) Introduction: Sharon's Advocacy and Welcome Joanna Strober, CEO of Midi Health (2:00) Joanna’s Personal Story: From Brain Fog, Anxiety, and Marriage Problems to Finding a Specialist (9:00) Finding the Right Care: HRT, Transformed Life, and the Bone Protection Dose (18:45) Solving the Care Crisis: Founding Midi Health and Scaling Expertise with Insurance Coverage (25:00) Midi's Word-of-Mouth Success and Dispelling the Breast Cancer Myth (33:00) Longevity and HRT: The Golden Window for Bones, Brain, and Heart Protection (36:30) HRT and Stigma: Why We Need to Talk About Hormones and Staying on the Patch Forever (39:00) The Financial and Family Case: Midi Patients Cost Less for Insurers (41:30) Midi's Mission, Funding, and the Future of Virtual Care (45:00) Conclusion and Thank YouPlease note: The information on this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs.About Joanna Strober: Joanna is the founder of Midi Health, a virtual care platform for women, with a focus on perimenopause and menopause. Midi brings expert care, covered by insurance, to women nationwide. Before Midi, Joanna founded Kurbo, the first digital therapeutic for childhood obesity, which was scaled to help tens of thousands of children worldwide. The company was successfully sold to Weight Watchers in 2018. Before diving into digital health, Joanna spent more than 20 years in direct private equity and venture capital investing in health and consumer companies, including several notable consumer internet companies, such as Blue Nile, eToys, BabyCenter, HotJobs, and Flycast. Joanna is the author of the book Getting to 50/50, a primer on how women can succeed and thrive at work and home. She has spoken extensively to corporate and graduate school audiences on the topic of women and leadership. She was named to Forbes' 50 over 50 list of top Innovators, the CNBC Changemaker 2025 and Time 100 Healthcare Leaders.About Sharon: Sharon Kedar is a co-founder and partner at Northpond Ventures, a multi-billion-dollar science-driven venture capital firm. Her extensive career includes leadership roles at Sands Capital and McKinsey & Company, and she is a published author on personal finance. As the host of the Innovate and Elevate podcast, she passionately advocates for menopause care and HRT (hormone replacement therapy), challenging the silence around human health XX (also known as women’s health). She aims to help women navigate midlife and achieve longevity by aging with power. Sharon holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a CFA charter holder. She lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband, Greg, their three kids, and their dog Bo.This podcast is produced by Brave Moon Podcasts.
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    32 mins
  • My Personal HRT Protocol with Dr. Rachel Rubin, Urologist and Sexual Medicine Specialist

    My Personal HRT Protocol with Dr. Rachel Rubin, Urologist and Sexual Medicine Specialist
    Sep 30 2025
    What if aging wasn't about being discarded, but about reclaiming your dignity and power? In this powerful episode of Innovate and Elevate, host Sharon Kedar sits down with her personal doctor, Dr. Rachel Rubin, a board-certified urologist and sexual medicine specialist. Dubbed "The Women's Dignity Doctor" by Sharon, Dr. Rubin is on a mission to fix the menopause care crisis by educating both patients and clinicians. The two unpack the systemic failures of modern medicine, from the misinterpretation of the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study to the shocking fact that doctors are still not adequately trained in women's midlife health. Dr. Rubin shares her five-step "prescribing" guide for HRT, including testosterone and vaginal estrogen, and a deeply personal story about why this work is a matter of life and death. This is a must-listen for every woman who feels like a "hot mess," or is an advocate for a woman in her life, who is not feeling like herself.What You’ll Learn from this Episode:The Midlife Care Crisis: Understand why women are often left to navigate menopause symptoms like brain fog, joint pain, and sleep issues on their own, and how the medical community's siloed approach to care has failed them. Dr. Rubin explains why this is a systemic problem, not a failure of individual doctors.The "NFLM" Diagnosis: Learn about the "Not Feeling Like Myself" diagnosis that Dr. Rubin uses to describe the common, but often dismissed, symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.The Five Pillars of HRT: Get a detailed look at the five key areas of hormone replacement therapy that Dr. Rubin covers in her course for clinicians: systemic estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, vaginal hormones, and vulvar vestibule cream.A Call for Dignity: Hear why Dr. Rubin and Sharon believe that access to proper menopause care is about more than just managing symptoms—it's about a woman's fundamental dignity. Dr. Rubin shares a poignant story about a patient who was at risk of dying from a UTI due to lack of treatmentConnect with Sharon:On LinkedInOn InstagramLearn more about the Innovate and Elevate podcastSubscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTubeJoin the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inboxConnect with Dr. Rachel Rubin:On LinkedInOn InstagramLearn more on her websiteTake the Hormone Therapy for Early Adopters courseAdditional Resources:Find a sexual medicine provider at ISSWSH.orgThe 2002 Women's Health Initiative American Urologic Association guidelines on genital urinary syndrome of menopauseFree trainings on genital urinary syndrome of menopause on Dr. Rubin's YouTube Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs websiteSkip to the Good Part:(0:00) Introduction and The Menopause Care Crisis (1:50) What Midlife Care Looks Like with Dr. Rubin (6:08) Why The Medical System Got It Wrong (11:00) Fixing the Marketing Problem (15:15) The Fear of Breast Cancer (18:25) The Dignity of Aging (20:01) The Care Crisis and Dr. Rubin’s Course (25:40) Unpacking the HRT Prescriptions (26:10) Systemic Estrogen (the "Workhorse") (30:22) Progesterone (35:50) Testosterone (39:40) Vaginal Estrogen: A Life-Saving Treatment (44:40) Vulvar Vestibule Cream (46:25) Dr. Rubin's Wish for the FuturePlease note: The information on this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs.About Dr. Rachel Rubin: Dr. Rachel Rubin is a board-certified urologist and a fellowship-trained specialist in sexual medicine. An assistant clinical professor at Georgetown University, she is dedicated to providing comprehensive care for people of all genders. Dr. Rubin is a passionate advocate for human health, working to advance the fields of research, education, and advocacy in sexual medicine. She is a prolific educator, teaching doctors how to prescribe hormone therapy through her online courses.About Sharon: Sharon Kedar is a co-founder and partner at Northpond Ventures, a multi-billion-dollar science-driven venture capital firm. Her extensive career includes leadership roles at Sands Capital and McKinsey & Company, and she is a published author on personal finance. As the host of the Innovate and Elevate podcast, she passionately advocates for menopause care and HRT (hormone replacement therapy), challenging the silence around human health XX (also known as women’s health). She aims to help women navigate midlife and achieve longevity by aging with power. Sharon holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a CFA charter holder. She lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband, Greg, their three kids, and their dog Bo.This podcast is produced by Brave Moon Podcasts.
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    48 mins