Women, on average, spend 25% more time in poor health than men. At the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, global leaders discussed the necessity of investments and research on women’s health to move towards closing the gap. This would not only advance women’s health, but also boost the global economy by up to $1 trillion in 2040 – simply by having the ability to lower the mortality rate among women through broadening healthcare access, allowing them to further contribute to the economy.
As time progresses, women’s health continues to be a medical field of major inequity. In February 2024, the White House announced its Initiative on Women’s Health Research, explaining that "research on women’s health has always been underfunded and under-studied”. Even though women have been included in medical studies for the last 30 years now, a major void from translational research to direct patient care still exists. Effectively, this means our actionable data on women’s health is barely in its adolescence. How did we get here?
In our Salon-style panel discussion curated by Claudia Mahler, we listened to experts, pioneers, patients, and doctors about advancements, ideas, and actions that will move international achievements and gender-specific medicine implementation forward, as this is a global challenge area with potential for growth and opportunity - medically, culturally, and economically. Featuring New York Times bestselling author and photojournalist Deborah Copaken, New York-based Top gynecologist, expert on Women’s Health and founder of Slàn, Dr. Molly McBride, non-for-profit GirlTrek Chief of Staff Ayanna Taylor, and America’s lead of the “Redesign Healthcare with Women in Mind” task force and Partner at Kearney Management Consulting Kate Maheu. Moderated by Claudia Mahler, founder CM Curated Conversations.
Photos: Sarah Blesener
Biographies
Deborah Copaken is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including Shutterbabe, The Red Book, Between Here and April, and Ladyparts, her most recent memoir of bodily destruction and resurrection during marital rupture (Random House, 2021). A contributing writer at The Atlantic, she was also a writer on the Emmy/Golden Globe-nominated Netflix hit, Emily in Paris, a performer (The Moth, etc.), and an Emmy Award–winning news producer and photojournalist. Her photographs have appeared in Time, Newsweek, and The New York Times. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Financial Times, Observer, The Wall Street Journal, The Nation, Slate, O, the Oprah Magazine, Air Mail, and Paris Match, among others. Her column “When Cupid Is a Prying Journalist” was adapted for the Modern Love streaming series. She is the writer, producer, CEO, and publisher of the Substack Ladyparts.
Dr. Molly McBride is the founder of Slán NYC, which aims to deliver personalized gynecologic care with a focus on perimenopause and menopause management, metabolic management and healthy aging.
Dr McBride completed Medical School at Drexel University and her Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
She has provided 28 years of empathetic and up to date Women’s Health Care, with a particular passion for menopause management. Dr McBride aims to be a true champion of Women’s Health.
Ayanna Taylor leads the Talent, Development, Organizational Culture and Strategy, and Program Innovation functions at GirlTREK. Prior to GirlTREK, Ayanna was a pioneer in education reform with a nearly 30-year career in K-16 education as a classroom teacher, professor, textbook publisher, and education consultant. Most recently, she was the VP of Program and Innovation at a nonprofit supporting Black teachers in the US South and served for 9 years as a Clinical Associate Professor of English Education at NYU Steinhardt School of Education, Culture, and Human Development, where she continues to serve as an adjunct professor. In 2016, Ayanna launched Access Educational Advisors, LLC, an educational consulting firm.
Ayanna sits on the board of NJ LEEP, a college access program in Newark, NJ, and the Somerset (NJ) County Youth Services Commission. Ayanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from The University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University, and an Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation from NYU.
Kate Maheu is a Partner in Kearney’s Healthcare and Life Sciences practice, she has spent the last 10+ years helping leading Healthcare organizations transform their business, from strategy development to process design and instilling ongoing operational excellence. She has an MBA from Chicago Booth and a BA from the University of San Diego. She started her career as a biotechnology scientist, developing a passion for healthcare and its impact on the everyday lives of people and communities. Since then, she has led efforts to create sustainable care models maximizing access to community-led healthcare. She regularly publishes on her expertise in pharmacy and community-led care. Kate is the Americas lead for our effort to “Redesign Healthcare with Women in Mind” – a community launched in Davos to accelerate collaboration in the interests of creating greater equity. Kate resides in Chicago with her husband and 3 children - every day is an adventure!
Claudia Mahler is a Salon host, podcaster, and creative activist, with more than a decade of experience curating meaningful conversations for women in business, art, and education in Europe and the United States. Her approach to event curation for organizations and businesses is more philosophical than presentational, so her women’s events are participatory, inspiring, and offer a desired break from routine. As a seasoned Communications and PR professional, having worked globally with clients in the consumer and luxury brands field, she has built a large network and international community.
VENUE ACCESSIBILITY
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