Transforming Women’s Health: Progress, Challenges & The Road Ahead

Last night’s “Transforming Women’s Health” event, hosted by GABA, Start2 Group, and Stanford WIN, brought together an incredible panel of experts to discuss the urgent issues shaping the future of women’s healthcare. A huge thank you to our speakers Sylvia Kang, Sandra Waugh Ruggles, PhD, Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD, Michele Barry, Suzana Tulac, PhD, PMP, Mindy Goldman, MD and to our fantastic moderator, Katja Hanack, for leading such a thought-provoking conversation!

For more great pictures of the event, please see our event photo album here.

Key Takeaways:

• Medical record integration remains a challenge—doctors often lack complete histories, impacting patient care.
• Global inequality in women’s healthcare persists, limiting access to essential treatments.
• Menopause symptoms are sidelining women in their careers—yet research and workplace support remain insufficient.
• Studies show that female doctors often achieve better patient outcomes, and male doctors perform better in mixed-gender teams.
• AI could revolutionize healthcare by improving record-keeping and diagnostics.
• Women were excluded from clinical trials until 1988—shockingly, even female mice were not used in studies.
• Cancer screenings have declined for the first time last year, potentially due to pandemic disruptions.
• Telehealth is a game-changer, expanding healthcare access to rural areas.
• Physician burnout is at a crisis level—50% of female doctors report feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.

While we’ve made strides in women’s health, the conversation last night made it clear: we still have a long way to go. Let’s keep pushing for better research, policies, and workplace support to ensure that women’s health gets the attention it deserves.

Thanks to our event partners Start2 Group, and Stanford WIN!