“I think diversity in general is important in terms of representing and catering for everyone in society. In healthcare, it’s particularly critical as women are most often the consumers on behalf of their families and they are most likely to be the caregivers for older/younger family members who are in need.” Today’s woman dreamer, Nicki Macmanus, has had extensive leadership experience in the healthcare industry including at CVS Health and Cancer Care Direct. In her Women Who Win interview, Nicki reflects on how growing up in a family of healthcare workers in Ireland inspired her future passion for the space, how digital tools and AI in improving healthcare access, and her advice to women in leadership. Enjoy her inspiring story!

People with IDDs (intellectual and developmental disabilities) continue to be essentially invisible to the healthcare community, suffering from unique healthcare disparities which have been especially brought to light in the era of COVID-19. However, there are some individuals who have been fighting for the rights of this group for many years. Today’s woman dreamer is Dr. Susan Abend, an internist and endocrinologist who has made it her mission to fix the healthcare disparities for this group, both in clinical practice and through her nonprofit organization, The Right Care Now Project. In this enlightening and powerful conversation with our global Health contributor, Priya Dharampuriya, they discuss her journey with Right Care Now, and how other women can get involved in this crucial initiative. Join us for another Women’s Health Wednesday!

LET’S TALK RURAL HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE ACCESS. Having health insurance is a major contributor to better health outcomes. Due to the high cost of healthcare, those without health insurance are less likely to seek out adequate care. In Tennessee for example, up to 10% of the population lives without health insurance, placing those with chronic illnesses in a particularly difficult situation. The survival of these populations rely heavily on the efforts of those in the medical field who are willing to bridge this gap. A beautiful example of this is Good Faith Clinic, located in rural Athens, Tennessee. Today’s woman dreamer, Norma Barham, has been volunteering with the Good Faith Clinic for over 14 years, providing healthcare to low income patients in Tennessee, often without health insurance. This article was written by guest contributor Elizabeth Taylor and our global health contributor, Priya Dharampuriya, both medical students with a passion for healthcare equality and access. In this thought-provoking interview, they discuss the role rural clinics have in our health system, the challenges these clinics face, and some of the key issues and trends with patients in these communities. A topical and relevant interview, join us for Women’s Health Wednesday!

“I am not your average Nurse, and I hope to disrupt the nursing world by shattering old school narratives.” Today’s woman dreamer, Farah Laurent, is a motivated and passionate nursing professional with 16 years of Emergency nursing, nursing education and leadership experience. An adjunct faculty member at NYU School of Nursing and Founder of Farah Laurent International Nurse Coach LLC, she is on a mission to empower nurses in their careers. In this Women Who Win interview, she shares her journey from the Ivory Coast to Canada, gets candid on the common stresses that nurses face, and shares her advice. Enjoy!

“It took my own brain misfiring to abruptly redirect my career path, but it was a true blessing in disguise. While finding tools to support my own brain care , I found an area that is of growing interest to many adults- brain health and wellness.” Meet today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Krystal L. Culler. She is the Founder of Virtual Brain Health Center; Chief Program Officer, Ziva Health, and a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Global Brain Health Institute. She share her personal health journey and expertise on managing migraines and headaches. Thank you to our Global Health Contributor, Priyanka Dharampuriya, for putting this interview together. Join us for another Women’s Health Wednesday!

In the spirit of the launch of The Shoe Project, today’s Women’s Health Wednesday will be our first Foot Health article, in our mission to educate communities on proper foot health and protection. We are excited to kick off with Dr. Saylee Tulpule, a D.C based podiatrist who has passionately educated the community on important foot related topics through television appearances, guest lectures, and more. She shares her expertise on The Diabetic Foot (Diabetic Mellitus), one of the world’s most common diseases, affecting over 422 million people. Dr. Tulpule provides essential information on symptoms, treatments, testing, and answers the common questions.

“My professional and personal worlds collided when my one-year-old daughter had a severe allergic reaction to peanut butter. I experienced firsthand what the families of my allergy patients were feeling.” Today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Ruchi Gupta, a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Founding Director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research (CFAAR), is world-renowned for her groundbreaking research in the areas of food allergy and asthma epidemiology. For Women’s Health Wednesday, she shares her expertise on all things allergies, and her strong passion for the field.

Let’s talk All Things Allergies. Today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Aleena Banerji is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Clinical Director, Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Director of the Drug Allergy Program. She shares her personal story and why she chose to pursue allergy medicine, as well as her expertise and perspective on the most common allergy questions, including desensitization, the exponential rise in food and nut allergies, allergy testing, and common symptoms and conditions to look out for. Thank you Dr. Banerji for this valuable insight!