Beyond The Paper Gown Podcast

Research & Innovation: Funding, the Regulatory Pathway, and Translation to Care is the second webinar in the My Vote. Our Health. series.

In this special recast, Beyond the Paper Gown teams up with Women’s Health Advocates, Community Catalyst, and the National Menopause Foundation to ask a deceptively simple question: What does it actually take to get a promising women’s health innovation into the hands of patients?

The answer is far more complicated than developing a good idea. Experts take us inside the long journey from research to real-world care, including government funding, private investment, clinical trials, regulatory approval, reimbursement, healthcare adoption, and the challenge of fitting new tools into already crowded clinical workflows.

Along the way, they explore where promising innovations get stuck, why even strong evidence is not always enough, and what must change to ensure that breakthroughs in women’s health do not remain on paper—but reach the women they were designed to help.

Featuring Kathryn Schubert, Naseem Sayani, Katherine Andersen, Richard Lipkin, Dr. Barbara Marusiak, Nada Hanafi, Tracy MacNeal, Liz Powell, and Dr. Mitzi Krockover.

This episode is part of the My Vote. Our Health. series, examining how policy decisions influence research, innovation, and access to care—and why advocacy and informed civic engagement are essential to advancing women's health.

Because innovation only improves women's health when it reaches the women who need it most.

Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Women's health is shaped by more than clinical care—it is influenced by policy decisions that affect access, coverage, funding, reimbursement and insurance coverage, and research.

In this special recast from the My Vote. Our Health. webinar series, Beyond the Paper Gown is proud to partner with Women's Health Advocates, Community Catalyst, and the National Menopause Foundation to bring this important conversation to listeners.

Leading experts in medicine, mental health, advocacy, healthcare policy, and technology examine the barriers women face in accessing care. The discussion explores mental health parity, telehealth, rural healthcare access, maternal health disparities, reimbursement inequities, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

From provider shortages and healthcare deserts to insurance coverage and payment policies, the panel highlights how systemic challenges impact women's health across the lifespan—and what can be done to create meaningful change.

Featuring Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald, Dr. Nadia Johnson, Geovannie Gone, Vanessa Joy Walker, Lori Evans Bernstein, Linda Goler Blount, and Liz Powell.

This episode is the first of five of the My Vote. Our Health. series, which explores how policy decisions shape women's health and why advocacy, civic engagement, and informed voting are critical to advancing better health outcomes for women.

Because when it comes to women's health, policy matters—and every informed voice has the power to make a difference.

Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown (https://www.beyondthepapergown.com/podcasts) to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown

Surgical Parity Project 

Community Catalyst 

National Menopause Foundation 

Ovarian cancer is often called a “silent disease”—but is it really, or are we just missing the signs? In this episode of Beyond the Paper Gown, Mitzi Krockover, MD sits down with Robin Cohen, RN, Chair of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition and CEO & Co-Founder of the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation, to unpack what every woman needs to know. From risk factors and prevention to the realities of late-stage diagnosis, global gaps in care, and promising new treatments, this conversation sheds light on a disease that impacts more women than many realize. It’s a powerful discussion on awareness, advocacy, and why speaking up—about symptoms, research, and access—can save lives.

Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown (https://www.beyondthepapergown.com/podcasts) to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzikrockover/ 

Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation

World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

ClinicalTrials.gov 

Standing in the supplement aisle and wondering what actually works? In this episode of Beyond the Paper Gown, Dr. Mitzi Krockover is joined by neuroscientist Dr. Shikha Snigdha, Senior Director of Scientific Affairs at OLLY, who brings more than 16 years of experience in neuropharmacology, clinical research, and translating complex science into practical women’s health solutions.

Together, they break down the science behind nutraceuticals and supplements for women in perimenopause and menopause. They discuss how to tell evidence-based products from marketing hype, why clinical trials matter—even for over-the-counter supplements—and how to read labels with a more critical eye. The conversation also puts supplements in context, highlighting the essential role of lifestyle pillars like exercise, sleep, nutrition, gut health, and social connection.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider about your personal health decisions.

Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown (https://www.beyondthepapergown.com/podcasts) to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzikrockover/

Shikha Snigdha, PhD & Senior Director of Scientific Affairs, OLLY

PubMed

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) — Dietary Supplements

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Why does women’s health still struggle to get the attention and investment it deserves—despite affecting half the population?

In this episode of Beyond the Paper Gown, Dr. Mitzi Krockover is joined by Anna Jeter, co-founder and Chief Regulatory Officer of AOA Dx, for a conversation that challenges how we think about progress in women’s health.

Anna shares the story behind her work on early detection for ovarian cancer—and why it takes far too long for many women to get answers. She also explains the findings of her new report, Women’s Health Exits, which looks at what has actually happened when women’s health innovations succeed and grow.

This episode goes beyond money. It’s about why these moments matter for patients—because they often determine whether a promising idea stays limited or becomes care that’s widely available. When women’s health innovations scale, they reach more clinicians, shorten delays in diagnosis, and improve outcomes in ways women can feel in their everyday lives.

For listeners interested in the bigger picture, the conversation also offers a clear, data-driven look at how women’s health companies grow, why that growth has been misunderstood, and how changing the narrative can unlock faster progress.

Whether you’re a patient, clinician, founder, investor, or advocate, this episode reframes women’s health as what it truly is: essential, overdue—and full of opportunity to improve lives.

Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown (https://www.beyondthepapergown.com/podcasts) to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzikrockover/

Women’s Health Exits Report

University of Washington Ovarian Symptom Index

How do you turn a women’s health problem into a real, usable digital product?

In this bonus mini-episode of Beyond the Paper Gown, Dr. Mitzi Krockover is joined again by Josefina Ruiz, Head of Growth at Light it, for a behind-the-scenes conversation designed for founders, innovators, and anyone thinking about building in femtech or digital health.

Josefina breaks down what founders often get wrong—from skipping product discovery to misusing AI—and explains why trust, community, and compliance matter just as much as code. She shares practical guidance on MVPs, feedback loops, technical co-founders, and building responsibly in healthcare.

🎧 Be sure to catch the main episode for the full discussion on women’s health apps, femtech innovation, data privacy, and patient experience.

Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown (https://www.beyondthepapergown.com/podcasts) to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzikrockover/

Josefina Ruiz, Head of Growth at Light-it

Digital Health Insider Newsletter 

What makes a digital health app truly trustworthy—and who decides?

In this episode of Beyond the Paper Gown, Dr. Mitzi Krockover speaks with Josefina Ruiz, Head of Growth at Light it, a global healthcare product agency building femtech and mental health platforms. Together, they explore what separates meaningful women’s health technology from “just another app”—from evidence-based design and patient experience to privacy, AI, and data security.

Josefina also shares her personal journey of discovering she carries the BRCA2 genetic mutation, and how that experience reshaped her perspective on healthcare, advocacy, and the importance of empathy and community in digital health tools.

🎧 Plus: Don’t miss the bonus mini-episode where Josefina shares practical advice for founders building women’s health and digital health products.

Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown (https://www.beyondthepapergown.com/podcasts) to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzikrockover/

Josefina Ruiz, Head of Growth at Light-it

How can women over 40 eat for energy, longevity, and a healthier, saner relationship with weight?

On Beyond the Paper Gown, Ro Huntriss—award-winning registered dietitian and Chief Nutrition Officer at Simple—breaks down how midlife shifts like estrogen decline and insulin resistance change the way our bodies respond to food, and what we can do to feel better.

Ro shares an evidence-based roadmap: how much protein we really need, how to pair foods to steady blood sugar, why fiber and healthy fats matter, and how to approach time-restricted eating in a sustainable way. We also cover which labs to ask for (A1C, lipids, vitamin D/B12/iron) and when glucose monitoring is actually useful.

You’ll hear her balanced take on GLP-1 medications, phytoestrogens like soy and flax, and the role of calcium and vitamin D in bone health. Plus: stress, sleep, and strength-training strategies to support cognition and cardiometabolic health—along with simple, doable swaps you can start this week.

Visit Beyond the Paper Gown to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown

Menopause isn’t a niche issue—it’s a national one. In this special Beyond the Paper Gown episode, Beyond the Paper Gown brings you a recent congressional briefing, moderated by Dr. Mitzi Krockover, and  featuring lawmakers and experts, Rep. Julia Brownley, Asm. Linda Rosenthal, Dr. Jayne Morgan, Jannine Versi, and Claire Gill to unpack the real health risks, the economic and workplace impact, and the policy solutions women need now—from insurance coverage and provider education to research funding and employer benefits. Clear, candid, and actionable, this conversation outlines how smarter policy can improve care and strengthen our workforce. 

Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown (https://www.beyondthepapergown.com/podcasts) to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzikrockover/

Jayne Morgan, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs for Hello Heart

Jannine Versi, MBA – Co-Founder and CEO of Elektra Health

Claire Gill – Founder and President of the National Menopause Foundation

U.S. Congress Legislation Tracker

Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation

The Menopause Society

What does it take to truly perform at your best—on the court, in the boardroom, or in everyday life? In this episode of Beyond the Paper Gown, Mitzi Krockover, MD sits down with Brook Choulet, M.D., The Performance Psychiatrist®, founder and CEO of Choulet Performance Psychiatry®, President of the Maricopa County Medical Society Foundation, and President of the American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry, where she is one of seven founding members. Together, they explore the intersection of mental fitness and women’s unique physical realities, from hormonal shifts and nutrition to body image and burnout. Dr. Choulet shares insights from her work with elite athletes, executives, and high achievers, including how self-awareness, boundary setting, and tailored routines can transform performance. Whether you’re supporting a young athlete, navigating ADHD, or striving for balance as a professional woman, this conversation offers practical strategies for thriving without sacrificing well-being.

Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown (https://www.beyondthepapergown.com/podcasts) to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health.

SHOW NOTES:

Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzikrockover/

American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry www.ussportspsychiatry.org 

Maricopa County Medical Society Foundation www.mcmsfoundation.org 

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

https://chadd.org