Women in the Integrative & Functional Medicine

Did you know that women make approximately 80% of their family’s healthcare decisions, (2) yet 24% of women report not seeking routine medical care for themselves due to lack of time, limited access to childcare, or an inability to request time off work? (1) Considering that women are at increased risk of developing many chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and certain cancers (e.g., breast, ovarian, cervical cancer), receiving routine care is essential to good health. (3) As mothers, caregivers, partners, professionals, sisters, and more, women often face unique challenges when accessing healthcare services and may deprioritize their healthcare needs to first address the needs of others. The current global health crisis has also magnified the health disparities and biases afflicting women, especially black and indigenous women and people of color (BIPOC). This year’s National Women’s Health Week theme, “Ending the Epidemic and Elevating Women’s Health,” serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing routine care (e.g., pap smears, mammograms, physical exams, etc.) and highlights the significance of equal access to affordable, high-quality care to ensure healthy women, children, and communities. (4) In honor of National Women’s Health Week, Fullscript has chosen to feature several practitioners in the integrative and functional medicine space who specialize in women’s health and well-being across the lifespan and are doing remarkable work to enhance women’s healthcare.  

Dr. Robin Berzin, MD

Dr. Robin Berzin, MD is the founder and CEO of Parsley Health. A Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Berzin completed medical school at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and trained in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She has also trained in functional medicine with the Institute for Functional Medicine. In 2011, she co-founded the physician communication app Cureatr and currently advises numerous startups in healthcare and wellness. Dr. Berzin founded Parsley Health in order to make whole-body, transformative medicine accessible to women and families through better services and smart technology. In 2020, Robin was included in Inc’s list of 100 Most Innovative Women in Business, and Parsley Health has been recognized by FastCompany as a Most Innovative Company. Parsley is now the largest holistic medical service in the United States.