In this episode of DISRxUPT, hosts Justin Cole and Shannon Yarosz sit down with Dr. Tiffany Ruder, a pharmacist, hormone specialist, and founder of Better Health and Hormone Balance, to explore how pharmacists can transform women's health through education, advocacy, and holistic care.

From community pharmacy to pioneering work in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, Dr. Ruder shares her journey of recognizing critical gaps in perimenopause and menopause care, and how she's empowering women to reclaim their health through evidence-based, root-cause approaches. This conversation challenges pharmacists to step beyond the counter and become champions for a population that has been historically underserved and often dismissed.

The Education Gap

• Only one in five OBGYN residency programs include significant menopause training
• Pharmacy school curriculum barely touches women's hormone health beyond basic contraception
• Women's symptoms are frequently dismissed or attributed to mental health rather than hormonal changes
• The medical model often fragments care, missing the systemic nature of hormonal imbalances

Understanding Perimenopause & Menopause

• Early symptoms often appear as mood changes, sleep disruption, migraines, and GI issues, not just hot flashes
• Hormones affect the entire body: digestion, neurochemistry, heart rate, metabolism, and more
• Women typically see 4-5 different specialists before finding answers
• The transition can begin in a woman's 30s or 40s and last 7-10 years or longer

The Pharmacist's Opportunity

• Pharmacists possess unique biochemistry knowledge that positions them perfectly for hormone counseling
• Five-minute consultations at the pharmacy counter are insufficient for complex hormone discussions
• Pharmacists can become educators in clinical settings, corporate boardrooms, schools, and community spaces
• Certification programs (like hormone replacement therapy specialist credentials) can deepen expertise

From Retail to Revolution

• Dr. Ruder's transition from CVS pharmacy manager to compounding pharmacy specialist
• The pandemic as a catalyst for career transformation and reevaluation of work-life balance
• Discovering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and recognizing the profound need for patient education
• Launching Better Health and Hormone Balance to provide one-on-one consultations beyond the pharmacy counter

Root Cause vs. Band-Aid Solutions

• Moving beyond symptom management to address underlying hormonal imbalances
• The importance of comprehensive hormone testing and personalized treatment plans
• Understanding the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones
• Integrating nutrition, lifestyle, and stress management with pharmaceutical interventions

Faith & Purpose

• Recognizing a calling to serve women who have been dismissed by the healthcare system
• Daily practice of trust and conviction in uncertain entrepreneurial waters
• Using pharmaceutical expertise as a ministry and showing compassion through patient care
• Balancing personal timetables with divine timing

A Vision for Women-Centered Care

• Creating holistic care models that treat women as whole persons, not fragmented body parts
• Building safe spaces where women feel heard, validated, and empowered
• Bringing specialists together to create integrated treatment plans
• Recognizing that women are not "mini men" - physiology, metabolism, and care needs differ significantly

Practical Advice for Pharmacists

• Pursue continuing education in areas of passion - don't wait for curriculum to catch up
• Consider specialized certifications to deepen expertise in underserved areas
• Look beyond traditional pharmacy roles to entrepreneurial and educational opportunities
• Advocate for patients who have been dismissed or overlooked by the healthcare system
• Remember that education leads to empowerment for both pharmacists and patients

Notable Quotes

"These women deserve so much more than five or ten minutes of our time."

"By the time they find compounding pharmacies, most have gone to four to five different doctors. They've been told no, they've been dismissed, they've been told their symptoms are in their head."

"We're not just these smaller versions of men. We are complex and dynamic, and our hormones influence a lot."

"Education can lead to empowerment because you don't know what you don't know and you can't take action if you're not fully aware."

"When we care for others, they get to see the Jesus in me because it's no longer me. It's God who's living through me."

Looking Ahead

Dr. Ruder envisions a future where pharmacists serve as educators and advocates in multiple settings, from clinical practices to corporate boardrooms to community spaces. She calls for a truly holistic model of women's health care that validates experiences, integrates specialty expertise, and treats women as whole persons rather than collections of isolated symptoms.

About the Guest:

Dr. Tiffany Ruder is a pharmacist, certified hormone replacement therapy specialist, and founder of Better Health and Hormone Balance. Originally from Kansas and now based in Houston, Texas, she specializes in helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause through evidence-based, root-cause care. After years in community pharmacy leadership, she discovered her calling in women's hormonal health and now provides one-on-one consultations and education to women seeking answers beyond the five-minute pharmacy counter conversation.

Connect with Dr. Ruder:

• Website: optimize-her.com
• Instagram: @optimizeherpharmacist
• LinkedIn: Tiffany Ruder
• Facebook Community: Better Health and Hormone Balance

Hosts: Justin Cole and Shannon Yarosz, Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation

Episode Length: 45 minutes

Release Date: November 2025

Episode Number: 53