What Cannabis Helped Us Discover—That Med Schools Still IgnorePlus: coalition gaps, AI for your doctor visits, and a sneak peek at compounded meds.

🌞 Good Morning!

Cannabis helped us discover one of the body’s most important systems—but now that connection might be holding back care.

This week, we break down what the endocannabinoid system really is—and why it’s missing from med school. Also in this issue:
💥 The 3 shifts women’s health needs now (Springboard)
🎧 Short podcast reads for your commute
🤖 AI tips to prep for your doctor visits
📌 Coming soon: a no-fluff guide to compounded medications—what’s safe, what’s not, and why women are turning to them. (If you have specific questions, reply to this email, and I will add to my research.)

Let’s dive in.

😲 The Most Important System Missing from Medical School Education

Most people hear “endocannabinoid system” (ECS) and think cannabis. But cannabis didn’t create this system—it helped us discover it.

Because of that association, ECS is often misunderstood or ignored - even though it is one of the most important regulators of mood, metabolism, pain, hormones, and immune function. It’s still not widely taught in medical school.

That leads to misdiagnosis, stigma, and missed opportunities—especially for women.

🔗 Read why this matters

A big thank you to the Nalu Biosciences team for sharing the article which influenced this post. I won’t like - when I learned of ECS, it took a minute for my brain to separate it from cannabis.

🙌🏼 Let’s Talk: We’re unpacking this in the Fempower Health Slack channel—join the conversation and share your story. Haven’t joined yet? Learn more about the Slack Community.

🚨 We’re at a Turning Point in Women’s Health

We’ve expanded the definition—beyond reproduction to include conditions that impact women differently, disproportionately, and uniquely. But we’re still having the same conversations, with the same headlines, the same data points, and the same voices.

In this new piece for Springboard Enterprises, I break down three shifts we need now to move from awareness to real change:

• Speak to the right people, in the right language

• Expand who’s in the room—and who’s missing

• Build coalitions that turn effort into action

Whether you’re a patient, clinician, founder, or advocate—this moment affects all of us. Because if the system isn’t designed to support innovation and care, then we’re all left waiting.

👉 Read the article

🙌🏼 Related: The Milken Institute recently announced their Women’s Health Network, which is chaired by Dr. Jill Biden.

 💬 Announcements

• 💪 Take Action: Women’s Health Advocates are taking action—and so can you.

  They’re organizing a Congressional Briefing on May 21 to educate lawmakers on how sex differences impact research, innovation, health outcomes, and the economy. You can join the movement by sending a customized letter to Congress in just a few clicks. Enter your address, and the tool does the rest.

• 📆 Monthly Slack Call: For those who are on the Fempower Health Slack Community, we’re kicking off a regular community call to get to know each other and pave a path forward. 💬 If you haven’t joined the Slack Community, learn more here.

• 🎧 Commuter-Friendly Content: With many back in the office, commuting is back. 🚗 🚊 ✈️ ICYMI, I figured I’d help a girl out, have been recording the articles I write and posting them on the Fempower Health Podcast. 🎧 They are just 10 minutes long.

• Headed to ACOG? Send me your takeaways. We can share with thegroup.

• Let’s Help Men Understand Menopause: Did you know one of the top searches for “menopause” is “how to deal with my menopausal wife?” 😜 Let’s help them out. I am looking for your input so I can summarize and create an ebook for the men in our lives. Please check out this short survey. 🙏🏼 Tell your friends!