"Female scientists discuss 'Femtech' innovations at Wired Health 2018 conference"
Stepping into the new venue for this year's Wired Health conference, it couldn't help but strike me: the glaring absence of women in science and medicine, particularly the tale of Rosalind Franklin. While previous conferences nestled in the halls of the Royal College of General Practitioners, this year's event graced the gleaming Francis Crick Institute.
Francis Crick was the visionary behind the structure of DNA, sharing credit with James Watson. They, along with Maurice Wilkins, secured the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1962 for their groundbreaking work. Yet, every time the names Crick and Watson pop up, I can't shake the thought of Franklin - the woman whose research with X-ray diffraction fundamentally bolstered their discovery.
In the foyer of the impressive Crick building, I shared this sentiment with my co-worker. Little did I know that women's health - and the topic of women's health itself - would pervade my day.
The Vagina's Time to Shine
"Being a woman never fails to bring excitement," declared Elvie co-founder and CEO Tania Boler as she took the stage.
She highlighted that, when it comes to women's health, technology has stagnated. A seasoned expert in the field, Boler boasts a Ph.D. in women's health, multiple leadership positions, and a laundry list of publications and research studies.
Interestingly, it wasn't until Boler became pregnant that she realized just how much she didn't know about women's health. In her words, "Now, menstruation, vaginal atrophy, and pelvic floor prolapse are the new taboos." Unfortunately, she learned more about the pelvic floor from pilates class than from her doctor.
Common pelvic floor disorders plague over 23 million women in the United States alone[1]. Boler and her team recognized that the gap in knowledge and understanding was a result of a gap in technology. Armed with this challenge, they created the Elvie Kegel Trainer.
A Small Step Leading to a Giant Leap
The Elvie Kegel Trainer is a game-changer for women's health. Featuring sensors that provide real-time feedback on the mind-body connection, this device is revolutionizing pelvic floor exercise. And, just as any successful behavior-altering technology does, they've made it fun with gamification.
The device has gained traction in recent years, with over 1,000 health professionals championing it[2]. They've secured a British National Health Service (NHS) supply agreement, ensuring that women in the U.K. can access it for free through their GP. The device even made its way into Hollywood; it was a part of the Oscars' celebrity swag bags last year.
Boler credits our current era with Elvie's increased visibility and momentum. "For big change to occur, all the stars must align, and that's exactly what's happening now," she said.
She elaborated on three prevailing movements converging to create such an ideal climate: the feminist surge (as well as the #MeToo movement); the technological revolution yielding instant personal data; and the paradigm shift in health, with power transitioning from the doctor-patient dynamic to individual control.
Yet, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Boler admitted that the tech community took its time embracing what Elvie was striving to achieve. She, however, expressed optimism, stating that "change is happening at a faster pace; it's becoming more of a no-brainer to investors that women's health is a significant opportunity."
Boler concluded by sharing that "change is happening on the edges, in start-ups." Given that she and her colleagues were situated in the smaller start-up area at the Wired Health conference just a few years ago, her claim rings true.
A Blurred Past and Bright Future
A few speakers after Tania Boler, the CEO of a biosciences company hit the main stage to tackle the gut-body connection and the utilization of microbes to battle disease. It was an enlightening session that began with the CEO displaying a photo of Crick and Watson, discussing how their discovery inspired him on a personal level.
I couldn't help but wonder if this was the moment Rosalind Franklin finally stepped out of the shadows of history. Alas, no mention came of her.
I voiced my frustration to my colleague during our lunch break, expressing my ongoing irritation at the lack of recognition for women in science and healthcare, whose achievements are still overshadowed.
Ada Lovelace, whose pioneering ideas about computing and early "computer programs" contributed to potential uses of Charles Babbage's concept of a programmable computer, was another example of a brilliant mind often overlooked until long after her time[3].
"I'm weary of the lack of visibility dedicated to women like Rosalind Franklin and Ada Lovelace," I exclaimed to my colleague.
And then, Ada appeared.
Finally, a Voice for Women in Technology
During the afternoon session on the main stage, the CEO of Ada, an AI-powered health platform, took the stage. Before serving as CEO, she was a pediatrician in London, focusing on clinical genetics. Now she's the company's chief medical officer.
Ada Health offers an AI doctor within an app on your phone, allowing users to have conversations about their health concerns and receive tailored advice[4]. The CEO highlighted that 4 billion people worldwide lack access to basic health services. In countries like China and India, doctors struggles to spend more than 2 minutes with each patient in hospitals. The NHS in the U.K. faces similar strains, making a digital solution particularly appealing.
Ada is designed by doctors for both doctors and patients. Using chatbot technology, it assesses symptoms and provides a diagnosis that can be shared with a physician. As of now, Ada boasts 2 million users and has performed over 3 million assessments on the app[4]. The company is continuously enhancing its personalization capabilities, integrating more data sources, tracking symptoms over time, and assisting patients with navigating their health journey.
What's more, Ada has a voice, interacting with users via Amazon's Alexa, bringing a connection and a sense of companionship often missing in technology.
For me, hearing "Hi, I'm Ada" was a poignant reminder that Ada Lovelace's computing legacy continues to live on.
A New Dawn for Women's Health
There's no denying that technology has an essential role in enhancing healthcare, and this year's Wired Health conference showcased numerous exemplary solutions. Women's health, in particular, is moving in the right direction, but there is still much to be done.
With each passing year of the Wired Health conference, I see promising new solutions to the universal health issues we face. This conference, held just days after International Women's Day, left me feeling encouraged to see women's health take a prominent place on the main stage.
References:
[1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Types of Pelvic Organ Prolapse. [online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-organ-prolapse/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20470350
[2] Elvie. (2021). Have 1 in 3 Women Been Turned Down for Clinical Trials? [online] Available at: https://elvie.com/journal/how-many-women-have-been-turned-down-for-clinical-trials
[3] Computer History Museum. (2020). Ada Lovelace and the First Computer Program. [online] Available at: https://www.computerhistory.org/resources/feb11-ada-lovelace-and-the-first-computer-program/
[4] Ada Health. (2021). Technology at the Intersection of Healthcare and Machine Learning. [online] Available at: https://ada.health/technology-at-the-intersection-of-healthcare-and-machine-learning/
- Tania Boler, an expert in women's health, expressed concern about the stagnation of technology in women's health. She emphasized the importance of tackling common pelvic floor disorders that affect millions of women.
- Boler's company, Elvie, created the Kegel Trainer, a device revolutionizing pelvic floor exercise with real-time feedback and gamification, gaining traction in the healthcare industry.
- Boler credited the current era for Elvie's increased visibility and momentum, citing the convergence of the feminist surge, technological revolution, and paradigm shift in health.
- Ada, an AI-powered health platform, showcased at the conference, is designed by doctors for both doctors and patients, offering tailored advice and diagnosed symptoms through chatbot technology, reaching 2 million users as of now.
- The Wired Health conference, held just days after International Women's Day, highlighted the significance of women's health, and Boler felt encouraged by the increasing recognition and solutions aimed at universal health issues.
