30 Million Women, One Overlooked Problem with Dr. Kate Stephenson

30 Million Women, One Overlooked Problem with Dr. Kate Stephenson

From The Healthy Enterprise by Heath Fletcher

May 19, 2026 · 47 min · Episode 73

About this episode

Dr. Kate Stephenson discusses the overlooked issue of women's health, focusing on vaginal infections and innovative solutions in the field.

Dr. Kate Stephenson explores the often-overlooked reality of women’s health—particularly vaginal infections that impact millions each year—and why better solutions are long overdue. She introduces CERN’s innovative device, designed to treat these conditions without the side effects of traditional medications, and breaks down the science behind how it works. The conversation also tackles the cultural stigma that keeps these issues in the shadows, the regulatory hurdles of bringing new medical technologies to market, and the importance of building strong networks to advance women’s health innovation. Kate shares her journey as a female engineer and entrepreneur in a male-dominated field, offering insight into resilience, leadership, and the need for more diverse, patient-centered solutions. Chapters: 00:00 The Unspoken Health Crisis for Women 03:00 Innovative Solutions in Women's Health 06:06 Breaking the Silence: Cultural Barriers in Women's Health 08:56 The Science Behind the CERN Device 11:56 Navigating Regulatory Challenges 14:52 The Journey of a Female Engineer in MedTech 17:50 Building a Network for Change 22:47 Navigating Women's Health in Tech 28:53 Overcoming Challenges as…

People in this episode

Host: Heath Fletcher

Guest: Dr. Kate Stephenson

Topics covered

  • women's health
  • vaginal infections
  • medical technology
  • cultural stigma
  • entrepreneurship
  • engineering

Keywords

  • women's health
  • vaginal infections
  • CERN device
  • medical technology
  • cultural stigma
  • female engineer
  • entrepreneurship
  • resilience
  • leadership

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CERN

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