Expert Talk Series Rethinking Diagnostics in Women’s Health

𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲: In a highly interactive and thought-provoking address, Dr. Rushdy Ahmad, Director of Strategic Alliances and Wyss Diagnostics Accelerator, at Harvard University, engaged Only Women members and guests for over an hour on the theme, “Diagnostic Challenges in Menopause and Endometriosis: The Urgent Need for Objective, Non-Invasive Diagnostics.”

The session, held under our Expert Talk Series in the segment Rethinking Diagnostics in Women’s Health, brought together women leaders from diverse domains for a candid and meaningful dialogue.

Dr. Ahmad offered both insight and reassurance, noting, “There are people inside the system who can see you. There are people working on your problems. They need you in this fight.” He encouraged participants to demand better, speak openly, connect the dots, and actively amplify the conversation. “Until we make this discourse mainstream and remove the discomfort around it, these challenges will persist. Do not hesitate to speak about it,” he emphasised.

He also highlighted systemic barriers that continue to hinder progress — from funding gaps and entrenched perceptions to promising research falling into the “valley of death” between discovery and real-world application, alongside regulatory hurdles and adoption challenges. A fundamental concern, he pointed out, remains: who will ultimately bear the cost of widespread diagnostic testing?