For thirty years, I have sat on both sides of the examining table—as a practicing physician, a corporate executive trying to scale solutions, and now as an investor. If there is one constant in women’s health that has frustrated me the most, it’s the feeling of being an afterthought in a system designed by default for men.
When I founded the Iris-Cantor Women’s Health Center at UCLA—which Self Magazine later named a Top 10 Center—my goal wasn’t just to provide excellent clinical care. It was to change the atmosphere. I wanted to remove the clinical, institutional feel and replace it with a space where women felt seen, heard, and respected. That experience taught me that innovation in women’s health isn’t just about a new drug or device; it’s about the entire ecosystem of care.
Today, through my consultancy, Woman Centered, LLC, and my work as a Managing Director at Golden Seeds, I focus on bridging that gap between clinical medicine and business strategy. I look for founders who understand that “women’s health” is not a niche market—it is the majority of the market.
Speak Clearly and Honestly
On my podcast, “Beyond the Paper Gown,” I explore this exact theme. We talk about why the traditional healthcare model often leaves women feeling like a collection of symptoms rather than whole human beings. We discuss the need to move away from the cold, fragmented system and toward integrated, empathetic care.
Whether I’m advising a startup in the FemtechAZ ecosystem or evaluating a health tech company for investment, I ask one consistent question: Does this solution meet women where they are?
The status quo isn’t working. By combining clinical insight with strategic investment, we can fund and build the future of healthcare—one where the paper gown is finally retired.
