
Hosted by Sharon Kedar, MBA, CFA · EN

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 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. Kelly Casperson:On LinkedInOn InstagramLearn more on her websiteBuy The Menopause Moment nowAdditional Resources:The 2002 Women’s Health Initiative (JAMA)FDA Menopause Panel Discussion (YouTube)Dr. Casperson’s book: You Are Not BrokenDr. Kelly Casperson Speaking at the FDA’s Announcement for Removing “Black Box” WarningsSkip 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 anymore”(8:00) Viagra vs. HRT: The gender gap in sexual medicine(14:00) The WHI study: What really happened in 2002(21:00) Fear, misinformation, and the black box warning(28:00) How hormones affect every organ in the body(33:00) Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — the full picture(40:00) The “Lost Generation” of women and rewriting the narrative(46:00) Testosterone: The forgotten quarterback of women’s health(53:00) Policy, training, and the future of menopause care(59:00) The next generation: Why millennials won’t wait to suffer(1:03:00) Closing thoughts: Every woman deserves the conversationPlease 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. Kelly Casperson: Dr. Kelly Casperson is a board-certified urologist, speaker, author, and women's health advocate. After realizing the significant gap in women's sexual health and hormone education, even within the medical community, she dedicated herself to empowering women through her work. As the host of the popular podcast "You Are Not Broken," and author of books like You Are Not Broken and The Menopause Moment, she uses humor, candor, and science to demystify complex topics around sexuality, menopause, and hormonal health, helping women to advocate for themselves and live their best intimate lives.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.

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.

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.
What if everything you thought you knew about testosterone was completely wrong? This episode of Innovate and Elevate features a groundbreaking conversation with Dr. Kelly Casperson, a renowned urologist and women’s health advocate who is rewriting the narrative around testosterone and women. She makes a compelling case for why testosterone is not just for men and why it is so much more than just a hormone for libido. Dr. Casperson, whom host Sharon saw speak in-person at the FDA Menopause Panel, unpacks the outdated medical dogma that has created a massive gap in women's health. The message is clear: our midlife journey isn't just about managing symptoms, but about aging with power, which starts with advocating for proper hormone health and understanding what your body needs to thrive. This is a must-listen for every woman who loves HRT and wants to live a better, stronger second half.What You’ll Learn from this Episode:The New Testosterone Story: Learn why testosterone is a human hormone that helps with motivation, energy, and brain clarity—not just libido. Dr. Casperson reveals that female bodies have four times the amount of testosterone than estrogen and why this hormone is vital for longevity.Barriers to Access: Understand the shocking truth about what’s holding women’s health back—from outdated regulations and the misinterpretation of data that has driven black box warnings to the lack of training for well-meaning doctors. You'll hear why the system is in "catch-up mode," and how doctors and organizations, including the FDA, are now working hard to correct the misinformation from decades ago and bring accurate information to the public.The Power of Patient Advocacy: Discover why women are turning to sources like Instagram and ChatGPT for medical advice and how this is a sign of a larger problem. Dr. Casperson provides a powerful call to action for women and men to advocate for proper health and to stop accepting a life of struggle and ill health.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 Dr. Kelly Casperson:On LinkedInOn InstagramLearn more on her websiteBuy The Menopause Moment nowAdditional Resources:FDA Menopause Panel VideoDr. Kelly Casperson at the FDA Menopause Panel VideoDr. Heather Hirsch Academy - Testosterone and Sexual Health CourseThe Menopause SocietyYou Are Not Broken - Dr. Kelly’s first bookThe 2002 JAMA WHI StudyMenoposseSkip to the Good Part:(1:19) How Dr. Casperson Got Into Hormone Health(1:34) Introduction(2:59) Medical Education Gaps Around Women's Health(5:44) The New Testosterone Story(23:55) The Challenge of Getting Care(29:33) The Scale of the Problem(33:27) The Importance of Treating Both Partners(38:10) Closing ThoughtsPlease 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. Kelly Casperson: Dr. Kelly Casperson is a board-certified urologist, speaker, author, and women's health advocate. After realizing the significant gap in women's sexual health and hormone education, even within the medical community, she dedicated herself to empowering women through her work. As the host of the popular podcast "You Are Not Broken," and author of books like You Are Not Broken and The Menopause Moment, she uses humor, candor, and science to demystify complex topics around sexuality, menopause, and hormonal health, helping women to advocate for themselves and live their best intimate lives.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 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.
Aging is inevitable, but decline is not. This episode of Innovate and Elevate features a powerful conversation with Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon and advocate for aging with power. She makes a compelling case for women to take control of their health long before menopause, starting in their 30s and 40s, or even earlier. Using the moving story of her patient, Miriam, who suffered a preventable hip fracture, Dr. Wright highlights the critical, often-overlooked link between estrogen and bone health. She unpacks the staggering statistics on bone density loss and osteoporosis, revealing that one in two women will experience a fracture. The message is clear: our midlife journey isn't just about managing symptoms, but about aging with power, which starts with proactive steps to build and protect your body. This is a must-listen for every woman who loves HRT and wants to live a better, stronger second half.What You’ll Learn from this Episode:Proactive Steps for Your 30s & 40s: Learn the "Vonda rules" for proactive health, including why it's crucial to get a baseline DEXA scan, REMS scan, how to feed your bones with protein, and the importance of lifting heavy weights.The Truth About Estrogen: Understand the profound, protective role of estrogen in bone health and why the widespread fear of hormone replacement therapy is often based on old, misinterpreted data. Dr. Wright explains why there is "zero debate" about its preventative role on bone.A Call to Action: Discover practical, actionable steps you can take today—from seeking out your own DEXA Scan to starting a progressive weightlifting routine—to invest in your future health and avoid becoming a burden on your loved ones.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 inbox Connect with Dr Vonda Wright:On LinkedInOn InstagramLearn more on her websiteBuy Unbreakable nowAdditional Resources:FDA Menopause Panel VideoEstrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol TavrisAdessoSkip to the Good Part:00:00 Introduction to Estrogen and Women's Health02:20 The Impact of Hip Fractures on Women04:37 Understanding Bone Health and Estrogen10:51 The Importance of DEXA Scans18:19 Making Informed Decisions About Estrogen25:33 Preventative Measures for Bone Health32:17 Empowering Women Through Knowledge and ActionPlease 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 Vonda Wright: Dr. Vonda Wright is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and elite sports physician who has dedicated over 20 years to research on optimizing aging. She is also a public speaker, author, and health innovator, with a focus on redefining women's longevity and wellness. Her work helps women navigate and thrive through menopause and other life changes. She has authored several books, including "Unbreakable" and hosts the "HOT For Your Health" podcast.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 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.

It's time to redefine what it means to age with power and dignity. On the Innovate and Elevate podcast, we go beyond surface-level symptoms to expose the hidden care crisis of perimenopause and menopause. We'll dive deep into women's health and longevity, challenging historical taboos with a data-driven approach. Learn about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the benefits of HRT, and how to combat symptoms like brain fog, hot flashes, and bone health issues. We feature brilliant guests like Dr. Vonda Wright, Dr. Kelly Casperson, and Dr. Rachel Rubin who are providing menopause solutions and changing the world.This show is for the woman in her 40s or 50s who wants to age with power and live a better second half. It's for the partners who want to understand the menopause and divorce crisis and support their loved ones. And it's for healthcare providers who want to fill the gaps in their own training and provide the menopause care their patients deserve. Tune in to a new kind of conversation on midlife health, and discover how we can live a life of purpose and power.

In this episode of Innovate & Elevate, Sharon Kedar is joined by Carolee Lee, Founder and CEO of Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM). Carolee shares her journey from fashion entrepreneur to women's health trailblazer, highlighting how her experience building a global jewelry brand led her to recognize the critical need for change in women's health funding and research.The conversation delves into the reality of the current state of women's health research and investment. Less than 1% of global research funding is allocated to studying women's health and only 2% of venture capital goes to female-founded startups, with an even smaller percentage dedicated to women's health companies. However, organizations like WHAM are making strides in changing that reality. Carolee outlines WHAM's groundbreaking initiative, "3Not30," which aims to accelerate change in women's health research and investment within three years. The Initiative is the first of a series of activities WHAM is spearheading in recognition of the 30th Anniversary of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act of 1993, a law which established guidelines that women and minorities should be included in all clinical trials and research which are funded by the NIH. The goals of the program include doubling research funding for women's health, increasing venture capital investment in women-founded companies from 2% to 4%, and improving diversity in clinical trials. This conversation underscores that women's health is everyone's health. By raising awareness about these disparities, WHAM is driving collaborative efforts across sectors to create meaningful change. Carolee’s parting message is powerful: while individual efforts are crucial, it's the collective power of everyone working together that will ultimately create substantial change in women's health research and investment.Connect with SharonConnect with Sharon on LinkedIn: Sharon KedarLearn more about Innovate and Elevate innovateandelevatepodcast.comSubscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTubeJoin the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox: Innovate and Elevate NewsletterConnect with Carolee Follow Carolee LinkedInFollow WHAM on LinkedIn Additional ResourcesWHAM (Women's Health Access Matters)The WHAM ReportWHAM 3Not30 InitiativeThis podcast is produced by The Wave Podcasting

In this episode of Innovate and Elevate, Sharon is joined by Shelley Zalis, Founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, a media and experience company that advances gender equality in the workplace. Shelley is a pioneer in online research and the first female chief executive ranked in the research industry's top 25.The importance of mentorship and community building is a central theme of Shelley’s career. She shares powerful advice for young women who are starting to build up their careers and addresses the concept of imposter syndrome, emphasizing how important it is to recognize and own your value. Shelley reflects on her journey as a self-proclaimed "Chief Troublemaker" and discusses how breaking rules has led to her success. She isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers and encourages everyone to practice self-advocacy, create new norms in the workplace, and challenge the status quo. Shelley highlights the need for better data and storytelling to change narratives around women in business and VC funding. She discusses her efforts to challenge existing statistics and uncover more nuanced data about female founders and diverse investors. This approach, she argues, is crucial for shifting perspectives and driving change in the industry.Episode Outline(01:27) Chief Troublemaker (06:12) Shut That B***h Up in Your Head (09:27) Data Driven: The Power to Tell New Stories(13:40) Together We Rise: Closing the Mentorship GapConnect with Shelley Follow Shelley on LinkedInLearn more about The Female Quotient Additional ResourcesShelley's column in Forbes Shelley's article for Time Magazine: Women Drive Wealth. So Why Is Equity Still Inequitable? Connect with SharonConnect with Sharon on LinkedIn: Sharon KedarFollow Sharon on InstagramLearn more about Innovate and Elevate innovateandelevatepodcast.comSubscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTubeJoin the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox: Innovate and Elevate NewsletterThis podcast is produced by The Wave Podcasting

A special episode 10 thank you:Thank you to all the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who work tirelessly to ensure patients receive the quality care they deserve. We recognize that, despite best efforts, healthcare is inherently complex and challenging. Your dedication and commitment are deeply appreciated, even in the face of difficult situations such as misdiagnoses. Your continuous striving to provide the best possible care makes a significant difference in countless lives.In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Innovate & Elevate, Sharon Kedar is joined by two remarkable young women, Alice Paul Tapper and Audrey Maged, for an inspiring discussion on the importance of self-advocacy and resilience, particularly in the face of medical misdiagnosis.Alice, a high school senior and author of two picture books, including her upcoming release "Use Your Voice," shares her harrowing experience of surviving untreated appendicitis that led to a life-threatening sepsis diagnosis. She details her journey from feeling dismissed by healthcare professionals to becoming a fierce advocate for herself and others. Her story is a testament to the critical need for patients, especially young girls, to speak up and advocate for their own health, even when it means challenging authority.Audrey Maged, Sharon’s daughter and a fourth grade student, was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, more commonly known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a condition that involves increased pressure around the brain, leading to symptoms like severe headaches. Audrey joins the conversation to reflect on the common barriers children face when trying to express their needs in a healthcare setting. Both Alice and Audrey emphasize the importance of teaching young people to use their voices, not just in healthcare but in all areas of life.Sharon, Alice, and Audrey unpack the societal norms that often discourage girls from being assertive and how these norms can have serious consequences when it comes to healthcare. They also discuss the emotional and psychological impacts of feeling unheard and the role parents and communities play in empowering children to advocate for themselves.Episode Outline(01:47) Raise Your Hand: Be Bold, Be Brave (09:42) Alice’s Misdiagnosis Journey (18:45) Use Your Voice: You Are Your Best AdvocateConnect with SharonConnect with Sharon on LinkedIn: Sharon KedarFollow Sharon on Instagram: @sharonkedarcfa Learn more about Innovate and Elevate innovateandelevatepodcast.comSubscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTubeJoin the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox: Innovate and Elevate NewsletterAdditional ResourcesUse Your Voice by Alice Paul Tapper Raise Your Hand by Alice Paul Tapper Raise Your Hand Girl Scout PatchChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia This podcast is produced by the women at The Wave Editing

In this episode of Innovate and Elevate, Sharon Kedar is joined by Dr. Renee Wegrzyn, the inaugural director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a government agency designed to drive high-impact health innovations. Appointed by President Biden in 2022, Dr. Wegrzyn shares her deep experience in both synthetic biology and biosecurity, drawing from her work at DARPA, IARPA, and Ginkgo Bioworks.The conversation dives into the unique role of government in fostering breakthrough technologies, emphasizing ARPA-H’s mission to transform health outcomes. Dr. Wegrzyn explains how ARPA-H takes on ambitious, high-risk projects with the potential to revolutionize healthcare, much like DARPA’s past successes in defense technologies, such as the early development of mRNA technology.Dr. Wegrzyn highlights ARPA-H’s approach to maximizing the return on investment for American taxpayers by focusing on scalable, impactful solutions that can transition to the private sector. She walks listeners through transformative projects, including NITRO, GLIDE, ADAPT, and POSEIDON. ARPA-H has a unique Program Management structure, which provides hands-on mentorship and support to ARPA-H grantees. Dr. Wegrzyn identifies how the partnership helps innovators address cost, accessibility, and user experience in health innovations. Sharon and Dr. Wegrzyn also discuss the ARPA-H’s Sprint for Women's Health and how the funding opportunity addresses critical unmet challenges in the women’s health sector. Episode Outline(01:50) How the US Government Drives Innovation (04:01) The Return on Investment to Americans (09:27) ARPA-H Programs and Funding (12:42) How To Work with ARPA-H (15:28) The Audacity to Imagine Success (18:59) Improving Research and the Standard of Care (21:40) Women’s Health Innovation (26:45) Beyond Conversation: Embracing Data-Driven Solutions Connect with SharonConnect with Sharon on LinkedIn: Sharon KedarLearn more about Innovate and Elevate innovateandelevatepodcast.comSubscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTubeJoin the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox: Innovate and Elevate NewsletterConnect with Dr. Renee WegrzynFollow Renee on LinkedInLearn more on the ARPA-H websiteAdditional ResourcesSubscribe to the ARPA-H Vitals newsletterFull list of ARPA-H programsThe hidden questions behind the Heilmeir QuestionsThe White House Initiative on Women’s Health ResearchThis podcast is produced by the women at The Wave Editing