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 treatment

Connect with Sharon:

On LinkedIn
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Learn more about the Innovate and Elevate podcast
Subscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTube
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Connect with Dr. Rachel Rubin:

On LinkedIn
On Instagram
Learn more on her website
Take the Hormone Therapy for Early Adopters course

Additional Resources:

Find a sexual medicine provider at ISSWSH.org
The 2002 Women's Health Initiative
American Urologic Association guidelines on genital urinary syndrome of menopause
Free trainings on genital urinary syndrome of menopause on Dr. Rubin's YouTube
Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs website

Skip 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 Future

Please 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.