WHIS - Agenda | Kisaco Research

WHIS - Agenda

Agenda Days: 
  • Wednesday, 5 Nov, 2025
    Registration
    8:00 AM - 8:55 AM
    Morning Sessions

    Unlocking Investment to Close the Women’s Health Gap

    • Understand how leaders across sectors are harnessing the opportunity of addressing women’s health
    • Learn where the opportunities are to reap the health and economic returns of closing the gap
    • Get strategic insights on where the health of women market is heading – and how stakeholders can stay ahead
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Lucy Perez

    Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co
    Global Leader, McKinsey Health Institute

    Lucy is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s Boston office. Lucy has 15+ years of experience advising CEOs and top teams at leading pharma, biotech and life sciences companies globally on growth strategy, innovation, sustainability, and organizational transformation.

    Lucy co-leads McKinsey’s ESG domain and McKinsey’s All-In DEI efforts in North America.  She also sponsors the Hispanic Latino Network at McKinsey and leads our research efforts on health equity.

    Lucy works extensively with number of biopharma and life science clients on broad range of topics, with recent focus on ESG/ sustainability, evidence generation, and digital/analytics programs to improve patient outcomes and support sustainable, inclusive growth.

    Led efforts for a leading biopharma to define their ESG strategy, partnership strategy, and stakeholder engagement approach

    Led efforts for a leading biopharma to embed health equity as a core principle in their R&D priorities and ways of working across the value chain

    Led efforts to assess internal and external portfolio productivity and pricing models to optimize the R&D strategy and redesign the organization for a top pharmaceutical company

    Led efforts for a leading biopharma to transform how it engages with customers through digital transformation, applying advanced analytics and embedding agile ways of working across their six largest markets that delivered $300M+ of near-term growth

    Sponsor of McKinsey’s Early Stage Investor Conference, an annual event convening 200+ entrepreneurs and 1000+ investors interested in bio/med/health tech and sustainability innovation

    Before joining McKinsey, Lucy was a research fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where she was involved in the development of novel treatments for solid tumors. She was also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute research fellow at Harvard University while completing her doctoral studies. She is co-inventor on multiple patents and has published in peer-reviewed journals.

    ... read more

    Lucy Perez

    Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co
    Global Leader, McKinsey Health Institute

    Lucy is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s Boston office. Lucy has 15+ years of experience advising CEOs and top teams at leading pharma, biotech and life sciences companies globally on growth strategy, innovation, sustainability, and organizational transformation.

    Lucy co-leads McKinsey’s ESG domain and McKinsey’s All-In DEI efforts in North America.  She also sponsors the Hispanic Latino Network at McKinsey and leads our research efforts on health equity.

    Lucy works extensively with number of biopharma and life science clients on broad range of topics, with recent focus on ESG/ sustainability, evidence generation, and digital/analytics programs to improve patient outcomes and support sustainable, inclusive growth.

    Led efforts for a leading biopharma to define their ESG strategy, partnership strategy, and stakeholder engagement approach

    Led efforts for a leading biopharma to embed health equity as a core principle in their R&D priorities and ways of working across the value chain

    Led efforts to assess internal and external portfolio productivity and pricing models to optimize the R&D strategy and redesign the organization for a top pharmaceutical company

    Led efforts for a leading biopharma to transform how it engages with customers through digital transformation, applying advanced analytics and embedding agile ways of working across their six largest markets that delivered $300M+ of near-term growth

    Sponsor of McKinsey’s Early Stage Investor Conference, an annual event convening 200+ entrepreneurs and 1000+ investors interested in bio/med/health tech and sustainability innovation

    Before joining McKinsey, Lucy was a research fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where she was involved in the development of novel treatments for solid tumors. She was also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute research fellow at Harvard University while completing her doctoral studies. She is co-inventor on multiple patents and has published in peer-reviewed journals.

    Session Job Focus: 
    Innovation and Investment
    Healthcare Costs and Outcomes
    Time: 
    9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    What are Payers Looking For? Priorities & Advancements in Women’s Health

    • How can companies evidence value to payers in relation to existing solutions and models?
    • As women’s health evolves, what areas are of greatest interest to payers?
    • Exploring women’s health through a value-based care, Medicaid, government, and population health lens.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Dianne Balon

    SVP of Government
    Blue Cross Alberta
    ... read more

    Dianne Balon

    SVP of Government
    Blue Cross Alberta

    Author:

    Katie Ryan

    Experience Strategy & Transformation Lead
    Humana
    ... read more

    Katie Ryan

    Experience Strategy & Transformation Lead
    Humana

    Author:

    Alice Zheng, MD, MBA, MPH

    Principal
    Foreground Capital
    ... read more

    Alice Zheng, MD, MBA, MPH

    Principal
    Foreground Capital
    Session Job Focus: 
    Innovation and Investment
    Healthcare Costs and Outcomes
    Time: 
    9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Networking Break
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    Morning Sessions

    Investor Reverse Pitching: What are we looking for?

    Hear from investors with a range of funds, interests, and rounds available to companies active in healthcare sectors that only, differently, or disproportionately affect women. Tailor your company pitch to meet the needs of these investment experts.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Anna Valcheva

    Venture Partner
    Alumni Ventures Group
    ... read more

    Anna Valcheva

    Venture Partner
    Alumni Ventures Group

    Author:

    Megan Dover

    Principal and Co- Founder
    Cross-Border Impact Ventures
    ... read more

    Megan Dover

    Principal and Co- Founder
    Cross-Border Impact Ventures

    Author:

    Rachel Springate

    Founding Partner
    Muse Capital
    ... read more

    Rachel Springate

    Founding Partner
    Muse Capital

    Author:

    Ara Abrahamian

    Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development (Nutraceuticals), Otsuka
    Managing Director, ONCE Ventures
    ... read more

    Ara Abrahamian

    Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development (Nutraceuticals), Otsuka
    Managing Director, ONCE Ventures

    Author:

    Mira Kaufman

    Investment Associate
    Ingeborg Investment
    ... read more

    Mira Kaufman

    Investment Associate
    Ingeborg Investment
    Session Job Focus: 
    Innovation and Investment
    Time: 
    11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Actionable Funding Paths & Derisking Investment

    • Concrete guidance on accessing non-dilutive and dilutive funding—what’s available, what’s working, and how to get it.
    • Strategies for founders and funders to navigate uncertainty and build investable, scalable ventures in women's health.
    • How women, as both innovators and investors, are transforming the funding ecosystem—and how to leverage that shift now.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Lisa Marceau

    CEO
    Joyuus
    ... read more

    Lisa Marceau

    CEO
    Joyuus

    Author:

    Naseem Sayani

    Director, Innovators Circle
    WHAM
    ... read more

    Naseem Sayani

    Director, Innovators Circle
    WHAM
    Time: 
    11:50 AM - 12:20 PM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Lunch Break
    12:20 PM - 1:30 PM
    Afternoon Sessions

    Digital Health & Services Showcase Competition

    From the latest apps, wearables, digital therapeutics and diagnostics, AI and M/L, the Startup Showcase brings you 6 investor selected seed & series A disruptors poised to transform consumer women’s health.

    Join this rapid-fire pitching session to hear from our startup finalists, followed by questions from a judging panel of expert investors. Come along to see the who’s who dominating the startup landscape.

    Session Job Focus: 
    Innovation and Investment
    Time: 
    1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Democratizing Access to Fertility Care

    • Exploring how advancements in the fertility industry improving success rates translates into greater access.
    • How policy and business models can provide opportunities regardless of geography, income, background, and sexuality.
    Session Topics: 
    Fertility
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Dr. Neel Shah

    Chief Medical Officer
    Maven Clinic
    ... read more

    Dr. Neel Shah

    Chief Medical Officer
    Maven Clinic

    Author:

    Lynn Mason

    Chief Executive Officer
    IVI RMA GLOBAL
    ... read more

    Lynn Mason

    Chief Executive Officer
    IVI RMA GLOBAL

    Author:

    Kate Devine

    Chief Research Officer
    USFertility
    ... read more

    Kate Devine

    Chief Research Officer
    USFertility
    Time: 
    1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Care Models Driving Improved Outcomes in Maternal Health

    • Delving into how policy and insurance coverage is shaping national maternal health standards.
    • Showcasing Kaiser Permanente’s approach to value-based care models, accessibility, and population health.
    • How the ‘cocoon model’ surrounds women with holistic supportive care beyond clinical monitoring during pregnancy.
    Session Topics: 
    Maternal Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Esme Cullen

    Chief Health Equity Officer, National Medicaid & State Programs
    Kaiser Permanente
    ... read more

    Esme Cullen

    Chief Health Equity Officer, National Medicaid & State Programs
    Kaiser Permanente

    Author:

    Jocelyn Audelo

    Senior Director, National Women’s & Children’s Health Clinical Program
    Kaiser Permanente
    ... read more

    Jocelyn Audelo

    Senior Director, National Women’s & Children’s Health Clinical Program
    Kaiser Permanente
    Session Job Focus: 
    Healthcare Costs and Outcomes
    Time: 
    1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 3
    Session Type: 
    Track

    The Future of Fertility Technology

    Session Topics: 
    Fertility
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Eduardo Hariton

    Managing Director, Fertility Innovation Fund
    US Fertility
    ... read more

    Eduardo Hariton

    Managing Director, Fertility Innovation Fund
    US Fertility

    Author:

    Kay Waud

    REI Physician
    HRC Fertility
    ... read more

    Kay Waud

    REI Physician
    HRC Fertility
    Time: 
    2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Therapeutics, Med Device, Diagnostics Showcase Competition

    From the latest drug developments, diagnostic devices and tools, the Startup Showcase brings you the best of the best innovators disrupting the space.

    Join this rapid-fire pitching session to hear from our 6 seed / series A startup finalists developing the next generation of regulated medical products, followed by questions from a judging panel of expert investors. Come along to see the who’s who dominating the startup landscape.

    Session Job Focus: 
    Innovation and Investment
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Building Strategic Partnerships Across Fertility and Women’s Health Frontiers

    • How fertility companies are expanding into broader women’s health areas like menopause, sexual health, and mental health and the partnership opportunities this creates for more holistic patient care.
    • How addressing reproductive, mental, and metabolic health can translate to fertility success.
    • Patient-centred approaches that leverage collaborations to address unmet needs across a woman's entire lifespan, including reproductive, mental, and cardiovascular health.
    Session Topics: 
    Fertility
    Reproductive Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Janet Choi

    Chief Medical Officer
    Progyny
    ... read more

    Janet Choi

    Chief Medical Officer
    Progyny
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Emerging Technologies for Maternal Health Management

    • How remote monitoring and wearables are improving maternal outcomes through data-backed decision making.
    • Addressing the “fourth trimester” with digital tools and at home care.
    • Investment, commercialization, and coverage strategies for maternal health technology.
    Session Topics: 
    Maternal Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Rachel Springate

    Founding Partner
    Muse Capital
    ... read more

    Rachel Springate

    Founding Partner
    Muse Capital
    Session Job Focus: 
    Innovation and Investment
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 3
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Streamlining Financial Pathways to Expand Fertility Access

    • Navigating the financial pathways of fertility care, addressing complexities in coverage across the clinical journey.
    • Exploring how leaders are using insurance innovation, employer benefits, fintech tools, and electronic health records to reduce friction, increase cost transparency, and help more patients access the care they need.
    Session Topics: 
    Fertility
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Chloe Cai

    CEO
    New Hope Fertility Center
    ... read more

    Chloe Cai

    CEO
    New Hope Fertility Center

    Author:

    Sheeva Talebian

    Reproductive Endocrinologist
    CCRM New York
    ... read more

    Sheeva Talebian

    Reproductive Endocrinologist
    CCRM New York
    Session Job Focus: 
    Healthcare Costs and Outcomes
    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Behavioural Health’s role in Advancing Mental Health for New Mothers

    • Uncover the technologies and breakthroughs around behavioural health practices
    • Prescribing behavioural health support strategies are effective for tackling mental health for new mothers.
    • How to maintain good mental, physical, and emotional health across the day-to-day life.
    Session Topics: 
    Maternal Health
    Brain Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Leslie Forde

    CEO & Founder
    Mom's Hierarchy of Needs
    ... read more

    Leslie Forde

    CEO & Founder
    Mom's Hierarchy of Needs

    Author:

    Tara Harding

    Owner
    Simply You Clinic
    ... read more

    Tara Harding

    Owner
    Simply You Clinic
    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 3
    Session Type: 
    Track
    Networking Break
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Afternoon Sessions

    How Stigma in Women’s Health Influences Consumer Market Dynamics

    • Sharing consumer insights into how stigma surrounding women’s health influences purchasing and channel engagement.
    • The role of branding and education in normalizing conversations and driving purchasing behavior.
    • How businesses can collaborate to improve trust, and empower women to center their own health needs.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Jenny Fisher

    Head of Strategy & Transformation, Adult Feminine Care
    Kimberly Clark
    ... read more

    Jenny Fisher

    Head of Strategy & Transformation, Adult Feminine Care
    Kimberly Clark

    Author:

    Mira Kaufman

    Investment Associate
    Ingeborg Investment
    ... read more

    Mira Kaufman

    Investment Associate
    Ingeborg Investment
    Session Job Focus: 
    Consumer Health
    Time: 
    4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Creating a Support System for Miscarriage

    • Sharing personal stories of RPL and miscarriage, what factors play a role and the outcome this has on families.
    • How employers, healthcare providers, and insurers can better support women experiencing miscarriage.
    • Opportunities to tackle miscarriage through mental health resource, education, technology, and partnerships.
    Session Topics: 
    Reproductive Health
    Maternal Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Cindy Rahman

    President & CEO
    March of Dimes
    ... read more

    Cindy Rahman

    President & CEO
    March of Dimes

    Author:

    Brandi Howard

    Senior VP of Clinical Affairs
    GenBioPro
    ... read more

    Brandi Howard

    Senior VP of Clinical Affairs
    GenBioPro
    Time: 
    4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    Track

    The Evolution and Uptake of Personalised, Woman-centred Menopause Plans

    • Examining the growing uptake in menopause treatments that cater specific stages and symptoms of menopause.
    • Ensuring that personalized menopause treatments are accessible to all women, including socio-economic, cultural, and healthcare system barriers.
    • Analyzing trends in provider menopause education & support and payer coverage for holistic menopause care.

     

    Session Topics: 
    Menopause and Longevity
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Asima Ahmad

    Chief Medical Officer
    Carrot Fertility
    ... read more

    Asima Ahmad

    Chief Medical Officer
    Carrot Fertility

    Author:

    Claire Gill

    CEO
    Menopause Foundation
    ... read more

    Claire Gill

    CEO
    Menopause Foundation

    Author:

    Jannine Versi

    CEO
    Elektra Health
    ... read more

    Jannine Versi

    CEO
    Elektra Health
    Time: 
    4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 6
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Health Data in Women’s Hands and Clinical Practice

    • How can we maximise the use of real time data driven by wearables, at-home diagnostics, and digital health platforms across the women’s health ecosystem.
    • Creating business opportunities in leveraging women’s health data for product innovation, personalized care, and strategic partnerships with healthcare and retail.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Dorothy Kilroy

    Chief Commerical Officer
    Oura
    ... read more

    Dorothy Kilroy

    Chief Commerical Officer
    Oura

    Author:

    Florence Comite

    CEO & Founder
    Comite Center for Longevity
    ... read more

    Florence Comite

    CEO & Founder
    Comite Center for Longevity

    Author:

    Rhiannon White

    CEO
    Clue
    ... read more

    Rhiannon White

    CEO
    Clue

    Author:

    Sylvia Kang

    CEO
    Mira
    ... read more

    Sylvia Kang

    CEO
    Mira
    Session Job Focus: 
    Digital Health
    Consumer Health
    Time: 
    4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    Track

    How Telehealth is Transforming Care Delivery and Access for Reproductive Health

    • Sharing how the telehealth industry is evolving to cater the needs of women across states and regions in the US.
    • Discussing how virtual care supports patient access in stigmatised health conditions and abortion care.
    • Where and when telehealth is the optimal means of engagement in women’s health and how telehealth companies can tailor to the needs of women.
    Session Topics: 
    Reproductive Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Jenny Sheehan

    Director of Access Support
    National Abortion Foundation
    ... read more

    Jenny Sheehan

    Director of Access Support
    National Abortion Foundation

    Author:

    Angel Foster

    Co-Founder
    The Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project (The MAP)

    Dr. Angel M. Foster is a Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa and the 2024-2029 University Research Chair in Medication Abortion Studies. A 1996 Rhodes Scholar, she holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, an MD from Harvard Medical School, and both master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Stanford University. Dr. Foster is a global abortion researcher and leads projects in 22 countries. She has authored more than 150 articles, co-edited three books, and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. She received the Guttmacher Institute’s 2017 Darroch Award for Excellence in Sexual and Reproductive Health Research and was inducted into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2023.

    ... read more

    Angel Foster

    Co-Founder
    The Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project (The MAP)

    Dr. Angel M. Foster is a Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa and the 2024-2029 University Research Chair in Medication Abortion Studies. A 1996 Rhodes Scholar, she holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, an MD from Harvard Medical School, and both master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Stanford University. Dr. Foster is a global abortion researcher and leads projects in 22 countries. She has authored more than 150 articles, co-edited three books, and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. She received the Guttmacher Institute’s 2017 Darroch Award for Excellence in Sexual and Reproductive Health Research and was inducted into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2023.

    Author:

    Yenee Bekele

    Clinical Director
    Feminist Center for Reproductive Justice
    ... read more

    Yenee Bekele

    Clinical Director
    Feminist Center for Reproductive Justice

    Author:

    Ushma Upadhyay

    Professor
    UCSF
    ... read more

    Ushma Upadhyay

    Professor
    UCSF
    Session Job Focus: 
    Digital Health
    Time: 
    4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Longevity Solutions to Prevent Poorer Health Outcomes Across Women’s Health Span

    • Shed light on Mayo Clinics’ expansion into longevity medicine and the benefits this field has for women.
    • Discussing the role of AI and pharmaco-genetics, and how this is weighed against food as medicine, mental health, and wellness plans.
    • How diagnosis influences lifestyle medicine from pre-conception to menopause and across a women’s reproductive health journey.
    Session Topics: 
    Fertility
    Menopause and Longevity
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Adrijana Kekic

    Associate Director, Experiential Education Pharmacy
    Mayo Clinic
    ... read more

    Adrijana Kekic

    Associate Director, Experiential Education Pharmacy
    Mayo Clinic

    Author:

    Rashmi Kudesia

    Reproductive Endocrinologist
    CCRM Houston
    ... read more

    Rashmi Kudesia

    Reproductive Endocrinologist
    CCRM Houston
    Time: 
    4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 6
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Building the Digital Infrastructure to Succeed in Women’s Digital Health

    • Sharing examples of partnerships between technologies enabling scalable and sustainable femtech solutions across fertility, menopause, and maternal health.
    • Learn how infrastructure & software services are bridging data, clinical care, and benefits to power integrated women's health ecosystems.
    • Hear from leaders building the digital backbone that supports innovation, provider partnerships, and better patient outcomes through patient monitoring & engagement
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Tamara Orlova

    CFO
    Flo Health
    ... read more

    Tamara Orlova

    CFO
    Flo Health
    Session Job Focus: 
    Digital Health
    Consumer Health
    Time: 
    5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Robotics and Imaging in the Next Generation of Reproductive Health

    • Integrating advanced MRI and ultrasound to enable surgical pre-staging and personalized planning.
    • Expanding access to robotic-assisted excision surgery to address the shortage of trained surgeons and technologies.
    • Bridging clinical innovation and business investment to scale precision care models.
    Session Topics: 
    Reproductive Health
    Speaker(s): 
    Time: 
    5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Gut Instinct: How Diet & Nutrition Feed Healthy Menopause Management

    • How the demand for menopause-focused functional foods, probiotics, and supplements is shaping new business opportunities.
    • Sharing insights into how nutrition and food as medicine links bone, heart, and brain health in menopause and the opportunity to address these health outcomes through wellness.
    • Expanding access to menopause nutrition solutions through pharmacies, e-commerce, consumer wellness, and employer plans.
    Session Topics: 
    Menopause and Longevity
    Nutrition and Food as Medicine
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Jacqueline Oliveira-Cella

    Founder
    wellBe Consulting
    ... read more

    Jacqueline Oliveira-Cella

    Founder
    wellBe Consulting

    Author:

    Laura Katz

    CEO
    Helaina
    ... read more

    Laura Katz

    CEO
    Helaina

    Author:

    Margarita Ochoa-Maya

    Reproductive Endocrinologist & Senior Medical Director
    Amgen
    ... read more

    Margarita Ochoa-Maya

    Reproductive Endocrinologist & Senior Medical Director
    Amgen
    Time: 
    5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 6
    Session Type: 
    Track
    Networking Drinks Reception
    5:30 PM
  • Thursday, 6 Nov, 2025
    Registration
    8:00 AM - 8:55 AM
    Morning Sessions

    Generating Cardiovascular Clinical Outcomes for Women’s Number 1 Killer

    • Addressing the under-representation of women in cardiovascular studies and how data-driven clinical outcomes are essential for tailored treatments.
    • How new technologies, screenings, and wearables are improving early detection and prevention of heart disease in women.
    • How partnerships between healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, device, and tech companies, can drive better cardiovascular outcomes for women.
    Session Topics: 
    Cardiovascular Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Tracy Warren

    Senior Managing Director, Go Red for Women Fund
    American Heart Association
    ... read more

    Tracy Warren

    Senior Managing Director, Go Red for Women Fund
    American Heart Association

    Author:

    Nisha Parikh

    System Director, Women’s Heart Program
    Northwell Health
    ... read more

    Nisha Parikh

    System Director, Women’s Heart Program
    Northwell Health
    Time: 
    9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Building a Women’s Health Innovation Ecosystem

    • Sharing perspectives from leaders in women's health, entrepreneurship, ecosystem building, and investment to explore the creation of thriving FemTech ecosystems.
    • Delving into FemTechAZ's model, dissecting key barriers facing innovation, and outlining practical strategies for building supportive regional networks.
    • Featuring insights from market validation and mission to establish Arizona as a blueprint for developing regional innovation ecosystems.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Susan Sly

    Founder & CEO
    The Pause.ai

    Susan Sly is the Co-CEO and cofounder of RadiusAI (RAI), an award-winning visual intelligence company specializing in the retail and healthcare sectors. RAI is currently implementing its smart retail solution at the edge for a national retailer with 1,000 locations.

     

    RAI has been named one of the fastest growing startups in Phoenix three years in a row and won VentureBeat’s AI Innovation at the Edge Award in 2022, beating out several highly acclaimed technology companies.

     

    Prior to cofounding RAI, Susan led channel sales teams in three sectors generating over $2 billion in revenue. In her spare time, Susan is the host of the highly acclaimed podcast, Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, mom of five, wife, and tech investor. Susan has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, ABC Family, and is a member of the prestigious Forbes Business Council.

    ... read more

    Susan Sly

    Founder & CEO
    The Pause.ai

    Susan Sly is the Co-CEO and cofounder of RadiusAI (RAI), an award-winning visual intelligence company specializing in the retail and healthcare sectors. RAI is currently implementing its smart retail solution at the edge for a national retailer with 1,000 locations.

     

    RAI has been named one of the fastest growing startups in Phoenix three years in a row and won VentureBeat’s AI Innovation at the Edge Award in 2022, beating out several highly acclaimed technology companies.

     

    Prior to cofounding RAI, Susan led channel sales teams in three sectors generating over $2 billion in revenue. In her spare time, Susan is the host of the highly acclaimed podcast, Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, mom of five, wife, and tech investor. Susan has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, ABC Family, and is a member of the prestigious Forbes Business Council.

    Author:

    Sidnee Peck

    Co-Founder
    FemtechAZ
    ... read more

    Sidnee Peck

    Co-Founder
    FemtechAZ

    Author:

    Azin Radsan van Alebeek

    Co-Founder & General Partner
    Emmeline Ventures
    ... read more

    Azin Radsan van Alebeek

    Co-Founder & General Partner
    Emmeline Ventures

    Author:

    Mitzi Krockover

    Co-Founder, FemtechAZ
    Managing Director, Golden Seeds, CEO, Woman Centered
    ... read more

    Mitzi Krockover

    Co-Founder, FemtechAZ
    Managing Director, Golden Seeds, CEO, Woman Centered

    Author:

    Scarlett Spring

    Executive Director
    Phoenix Bioscience Core
    ... read more

    Scarlett Spring

    Executive Director
    Phoenix Bioscience Core
    Session Job Focus: 
    Innovation and Investment
    Digital Health
    Time: 
    9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Networking Break
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    Morning Sessions

    The Cost of Accessible Contraception

    • Discussing the financial burden associated with contraception, gaps in coverage, and how this influences retail access.
    • Sharing commercial opportunities by making low-cost contraception more available through ecosystem partnerships.
    • How can the industry operationalize OTC coverage and distribution of contraception and other women’s health medications.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Victoria Nichols

    Senior Project Director, Free the Pill
    Ibis Reproductive Health
    ... read more

    Victoria Nichols

    Senior Project Director, Free the Pill
    Ibis Reproductive Health

    Author:

    Flavia Mason

    Global Vice President, Women's Health
    Perrigo
    ... read more

    Flavia Mason

    Global Vice President, Women's Health
    Perrigo
    Session Job Focus: 
    Consumer Health
    Healthcare Costs and Outcomes
    Time: 
    11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Holistic Approaches to Tackling Social Determinants of Maternal Health

    • Exploring how housing, nutrition, identity, and income shape maternal outcomes.
    • Highlighting programs and solutions that integrate social support with clinical care.
    • Discussing actionable strategies in the clinical setting that embed accessibility and education into maternal health systems.
    Session Topics: 
    Nutrition and Food as Medicine
    Maternal Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Nawal Nour

    Chair & Director of Obstetrics & Gynecology
    Brigham and Women’s Hospital
    ... read more

    Nawal Nour

    Chair & Director of Obstetrics & Gynecology
    Brigham and Women’s Hospital
    Time: 
    11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    Track

    From Pre-Launch to Payer Buy-In: Educating the Commercial Healthcare Ecosystem

    • How to mitigate inappropriate drug use and dosing risk, leveraging mechanisms like Pre-Approval Information Exchange (PIE) and PDUFA timelines to shape understanding of indication, value, and safety.
    • How to engage payers as early as phase 2 to build trust and tailor future value-based contracts, launching with outcomes-driven frameworks to support access and reimbursement.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Jim Kenney

    Founder – JTKENNEY
    Former Manager, Specialty and Pharmacy Contracts - Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
    ... read more

    Jim Kenney

    Founder – JTKENNEY
    Former Manager, Specialty and Pharmacy Contracts - Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
    Session Job Focus: 
    Innovation and Investment
    Healthcare Costs and Outcomes
    Time: 
    11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 8
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Beyond Contraception – How Consumer-wellness Solutions are Addressing Menstrual Health & Cycle Symptoms

    • Holistic approaches to addressing the full spectrum of menstrual and hormonal symptoms, including pain, mood changes, sleep, and fatigue.
    • Sharing consumer insights and opportunities to implement alternative solutions for menstrual health, sharing learnings from successful engagement strategies.
    • Learn how the consumer health industry is conducting new research to drive access, education, and science-backed tools forward.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Sasha Kalcheff-Korn

    Executive Director
    Realm of Caring
    ... read more

    Sasha Kalcheff-Korn

    Executive Director
    Realm of Caring
    Session Job Focus: 
    Consumer Health
    Time: 
    11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Streamlining Diagnosis in Reproductive Health Through Technology & Epidemiology

    • Leveraging tech and epidemiological data to reduce diagnostic delays in reproductive health.
    • Exploring AI, biomarkers, digital therapeutics, and digital platforms that enable earlier and more accurate diagnoses.
    • Advice to start-ups and sharing the market opportunity for clinical integration in preventative & diagnostic women’s health.
    Session Topics: 
    Reproductive Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Miller Morris

    CEO
    Comma
    ... read more

    Miller Morris

    CEO
    Comma
    Session Job Focus: 
    Digital Health
    Time: 
    11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    Track

    From Complexity to Clarity: Harnessing Data and AI to Transform Cost Models in Women’s Healthcare

    • How payers can apply AI and predictive analytics to optimize cost structures in women’s healthcare.
    • The role of structured and unstructured data in improving patient outcomes and reducing financial barriers.
    • Actionable insights for startups: what data to prioritize and how to maximize its value when working with payers and providers.

     

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Angela Rastegar

    CEO
    Sunfish
    ... read more

    Angela Rastegar

    CEO
    Sunfish
    Session Job Focus: 
    Healthcare Costs and Outcomes
    Innovation and Investment
    Time: 
    11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 8
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Likes, Trust, and Baby Dust: Social Media Strategies for Fertility & Reproductive Health Practices

    • Discussing the emerging trends of women’s health education & awareness on social media.
    • How companies can best utilize social media for marketing & business opportunity.
    • Addressing misinformation, trust and health literacy impacting health & wellness decision-making.
    Session Topics: 
    Reproductive Health
    Fertility
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Roohi Jeelani

    Chief Growth Officer
    Kindbody
    ... read more

    Roohi Jeelani

    Chief Growth Officer
    Kindbody
    Session Job Focus: 
    Digital Health
    Time: 
    12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Genomic & Data Driven Approaches to Optimize Clinical Outcomes

    • Elucidating how researchers are using menstrual effluent to track fertility, inflammation, and disease.
    • Consumer Adoption & Clinical Validation – The path to making menstrual-based diagnostics a mainstream health tool.
    • Investment & Industry Growth – The market potential of menstrual-based biomarkers in diagnostics and therapeutics.
    Session Topics: 
    Reproductive Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Lara Zibners

    Co-Founder
    Calla Lily Clinical Care
    ... read more

    Lara Zibners

    Co-Founder
    Calla Lily Clinical Care
    Time: 
    12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Fireside Chat: Priorities for Supporting Women in the Workforce

    • How employers are integrating fertility, menopause, and maternal health into employee health plans.
    • Addressing workplace challenges like menstrual health, caregiving, and chronic conditions.
    • The ROI of Women's Health Investment – How employer-driven health initiatives improve retention.
    Session Topics: 
    Brain Health
    Nutrition and Food as Medicine
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Maxine Carrington

    Chief People Officer
    Northwell Health
    ... read more

    Maxine Carrington

    Chief People Officer
    Northwell Health
    Session Job Focus: 
    Healthcare Costs and Outcomes
    Time: 
    12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 8
    Session Type: 
    Track
    Lunch Break
    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
    Afternoon Sessions

    Defining Product-Market Fit in Digital Health to Enable Scalability

    • Demystifying product-market fit in the context of digital health, where clinical need, usability, and reimbursement must align.
    • Identifying key indicators—user adoption, engagement, and outcomes—that show readiness to scale.
    • Strategies for translating validated need into scalable, sustainable digital health solutions.
    Speaker(s): 
    Session Job Focus: 
    Innovation and Investment
    Time: 
    1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Safety Profiles & Women’s Reproductive Drug Development

    • How can pre-trial screening effectively predict side effects and symptoms associated with reproductive therapeutics.
    • What are the appropriate safety profiles to apply for endometriosis, PCOS, and fibroids.
    Session Topics: 
    Reproductive Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Johan van Hylckama

    CSO
    Freya Biosciences
    ... read more

    Johan van Hylckama

    CSO
    Freya Biosciences
    Session Job Focus: 
    Med Device
    Time: 
    1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 7
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Understanding the Development of Alzheimer’s in Women

    • Sharing new clinical outcomes and how clinical trials are evolving.
    • Exploring the link between menopause, estrogen, and cognitive decline.
    • How biomarkers, digital tools, and lifestyle interventions can improve outcomes.
    Session Topics: 
    Brain Health
    Time: 
    1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 8
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Accelerating Clinical Validation of Therapeutics through Biomarker Discovery

    • Explore how biomarker-driven approaches are streamlining trial design, improving patient stratification, and accelerating time-to-approval for women’s health therapeutics.
    • Learn how collaborations between industry, academia, biotech, and pharma are turning early-stage biomarker insights into clinically actionable endpoints.
    • How to maximise the use of biobanks in biomarker discovery.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Sanj Singh

    CEO
    Temple Therapeutics
    ... read more

    Sanj Singh

    CEO
    Temple Therapeutics
    Time: 
    2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 7
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Enabling Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Accessibility

    • Exploring the current landscape of screening services in women’s cancers and market opportunities to address unmet need.

    • Sharing how AI, technology, and genetic testing can address gaps in access.

    • How providers and patients can be equipped with tools for early detection and cancer prevention.

    Session Topics: 
    Oncology
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Andrea Olariu

    CEO
    Medicines360
    ... read more

    Andrea Olariu

    CEO
    Medicines360
    Session Job Focus: 
    Digital Health
    Time: 
    2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 8
    Session Type: 
    Track
    Networking Break
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Afternoon Sessions

    How Agentic AI is set to Transform the Landscape of Healthcare

    • Sharing where and when Agentic AI is going to be implemented, from clinical trials to provider assistance.
    • What Agentic AI means for the women’s health industry, opportunities and challenges to implement across workflows.
    • The impact of Agentic AI on health systems and digital platforms to support scalability and efficiency. 

     

    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Bridging Clinical Development & Licensing in Women’s Health

    • Learn how to align clinical development strategies with licensing milestones to accelerate commercialization in women’s health.
    • Explore what pharma and late stage investors look for in licensing-ready assets, from early efficacy signals to regulatory preparedness.
    • Understand how to navigate clinical, legal, and market access challenges unique to women’s health to build a compelling licensing case.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Oliver Bates

    Chief Executive Officer
    Viramal
    ... read more

    Oliver Bates

    Chief Executive Officer
    Viramal
    Session Job Focus: 
    Drug Development
    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 7
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Menopause Data Advancements in Clinical Practice & Research

    • Discuss strategies for trial design that account for hormonal fluctuations, comorbidities, and age-related variables unique to the menopausal transition.
    • Highlight regulatory, industry, and advocacy efforts that are pushing for menopause-specific representation in therapeutic areas beyond just women’s health.
    • Sharing advancements to educate clinical trial patients about menopause.
    Session Topics: 
    Menopause and Longevity
    Session Job Focus: 
    Drug Development
    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 8
    Session Type: 
    Track

    A Novel Oncolytic Peptide for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Therapy

    • Explore the mechanism of action and preclinical efficacy of a first-in-class oncolytic peptide targeting triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
    • Understand how peptide-based approaches offer new hope for aggressive and treatment-refractory subtypes of breast cancer.
    • Learn about the breast cancer therapeutic roadmap and landscape.
    Session Topics: 
    Oncology
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Mark Eccleston

    Chief Executive Officer
    ValiRx
    ... read more

    Mark Eccleston

    Chief Executive Officer
    ValiRx
    Session Job Focus: 
    Drug Development
    Time: 
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 7
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Data-driven Drug Discovery in Women’s Health & Reproductive Medicine

    • Discover how real-world data, genomics, and AI are revealing new targets and mechanisms in female-specific and reproductive conditions.
    • Learn how data integration is shortening timelines from target identification to preclinical validation.
    • Sharing insights into novel drug discovery approaches, the use of AI, multi-omics data, and 3D models.
    Session Topics: 
    Reproductive Health
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Stasa Stankovic

    Chief Executive Officer
    Ovartix
    ... read more

    Stasa Stankovic

    Chief Executive Officer
    Ovartix
    Session Job Focus: 
    Drug Development
    Time: 
    4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 7
    Session Type: 
    Track

    Advancing Clinical Trial Design for Women’s Drugs & Devices

    • Sharing the role of technology and partnerships in the design & recruitment of studies.
    • Highlighting adaptive trial designs, decentralized models, and inclusive recruitment strategies.
    • Exploring how smarter trial design accelerates approval, reduces risk, and improves real-world outcomes.
    Time: 
    4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 7
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    End of WHIS 2025

Jump to: Wednesday, 5 Nov | Thursday, 6 Nov

Agenda Tracks: 
Track Title: 
Innovation & Start-Up Breakthroughs
Track Color: 
#0282ff
Track Title: 
Fertility Insights
Track Color: 
#f532ed
Track Title: 
Maternal Health
Track Color: 
#af13ff
Track Title: 
Consumer & Digital Health
Track Color: 
#42d6fa
Track Title: 
Reproductive Health
Track Color: 
#915ee8
Track Title: 
Menopause & Longevity
Track Color: 
#ff4b56
Track Title: 
Drug & Device Development
Track Color: 
#915ee8
Track Title: 
Across the Healthspan
Track Color: 
#ff4b56