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HTN Member Reflection: Women's Health PAC in San Francisco
Deepa Sheth reflects on her experience attending the event and details the role and goals of the organization
Deepa Sheth
October 19, 2024
✍️ Note from Health Tech Nerds
We never cease to be impressed by the density of talent, drive, and generosity in the community. It’s pretty special to see all the great things HTN members are working on, and the Women’s Health PAC is no exception.
Recognizing the opportunity to invest in impactful initiatives and individuals, we sponsored HTN member Deepa Sheth to attend the PAC event in San Francisco. Deepa is a health tech advisor, angel investor, and former exec at SCAN and Oak Street. She reflects on her learnings about the organization and the impact the event had on her and fellow attendees.
Thanks, Deepa!
Raising awareness and optimism
Last month, in San Francisco, the newly established bipartisan Women’s Health PAC (political action committee) held an event to raise awareness, raise money, and raise the temperature on advancing women’s health initiatives. Created to prioritize women’s health on the public policy agenda, the PAC aims to influence key elections in support of candidates who champion these crucial issues.
The buzz in the room was electric—far from typical conferences or networking events. Liz Powell, one of the co-founders alongside Candace McDonald and Jodi Neuhauser, kicked things off with a bold declaration:
“What a lot of people thought was a moment is actually a movement. We’re not stopping here—we’re turning this movement into a demand for real change.”
Until now, there had never been a bipartisan PAC focused on the holistic needs of women’s health across our lifespans—a change that’s long overdue. Powell, McDonald, Neuhauser, and the dedicated advocates backing them are taking action against the harsh reality that women’s health is underfunded and often deprioritized. The trio, along with 150+ enthusiastic healthcare leaders and advocates in attendance, remained optimistic, fueled by new government funding and growing investments in women’s health.
The event featured three energizing guest speakers, each personalizing the issues of women’s health parity and supporting the PAC’s mission:
ACCESS TO MEDICATION
Joanna Strober, CEO and Co-Founder of Midi Health, didn’t hold back as she dropped real-time insights on the intersection of the PAC's goals and women’s health tech. The Drug Enforcement Administration is considering rolling back telehealth prescription access, which could severely limit women’s access to medications for anxiety, hormone therapy, and insomnia. She urged the audience to use their voices, highlighting opportunities like signing petitions as as simple action to support the effort.
“Our voices have got to be heard…if we don’t make noise, laws will get passed that impact our bodies, and we won’t have a say.”
MATERNAL MORTALITY
Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, physician and founder of Beyond Clinical Walls, shared gut-wrenching personal and professional stories about maternal mortality among Black women, clinical trial representation, and biases in metrics like BMI. “Access alone will not solve the maternal mortality crisis. We must address the underlying biases and outdated practices," she urged, advocating a shift away from purely race-based algorithms and towards personalized medicine that reflects each individual’s unique genetic makeup and medical history.
“Access alone will not solve the maternal mortality crisis. We must address the underlying biases and outdated practices."
CAREGIVER BURDEN
Busy Burr, former Interim CEO of Rite Aid, opened up about caregiver burden, sharing her experience caring for her late wife. Burr highlighted how representation matters, recalling a significant moment when New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote to her and the two other CEOs (who happened to be women) of the largest pharmacies in the country to ensure access to mifepristone.
“Women make up the largest unpaid healthcare workforce—it’s vital yet often invisible.”
Creating conviction for change
There was a bonding feeling in the room and an imperative we knew we have to take. The stories resonated deeply, reflecting our collective experiences as patients and caregivers. We have each faced a challenge at some point as women navigating the complicated healthcare system. Yet, fueled by these narratives, we and millions of advocates for women’s healthcare are ready to help “turn this movement into a mandate for change.”
Supporting the Women’s Health PAC is a powerful way to support women’s health, in addition to building and investing in women’s health companies. Visit womenshealthpac.us to learn how to get involved.
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