Katie’s Notebook: November 14, 2024

Written By Katie McMillan

Hello There,

I had planned for this issue to come out last week, but with the election frenzy and subsequent letdown of the results, I felt like we could all benefit from a little breathing room. I know I was a minimally functioning human for a few days. I hope that you have found some glimmers of goodness, purpose, and action as we move towards the future. Seeing my daughter celebrate her birthday brought me joy, wandering through a rose garden gave me a moment to marvel at nature, and watching Nobody Wants This provided some much needed laughs.

Let’s dig into The Five:

  • I’ll be heading to NYC for the Digital Medicine Conference Dec 9-10. Will anyone be joining me? I’m moderating this panel, AI & Digital Health Solutions: Navigating Evidence Needs Across Global Markets, and hope to see you there. Happy to sneak out to check the holiday window displays with anyone attending!

  • I’m trying this breakfast casserole on Sunday for brunch. Make ahead? Yes, please.

  • What Do Societal Beauty Standards Have to Do with Breast Cancer? This Scientific American interview with Dr. Jasmine McDonald was an interesting read about endocrine disruptors, forever chemicals, and what we can do to reduce our exposure risk.

  • For cold and flu season: Apple Watches Can Predict When You'll Get Sick, Users Say. Can a Health Tracker Really Do That? “Trackers like the Apple Vitals app don’t explicitly say people are sick or about to get sick. But they do collect and analyze metrics that are strongly linked to the autonomic nervous system, which plays a crucial role in regulating various functions in the body, including the immune response.” One of these metrics is body temperature. I’ve noticed that the Oura ring that I wear measures my temperature against where I am in my menstrual cycle. Women typically go below baseline in the follicular phase (first half of their cycle) and above baseline in the luteal phase (second half.) I’ve noticed that for me it can swing as much as a full degree in either direction. This makes me wonder if with potential sickness predictions within health apps, there should be some control for standard deviation from the norm before alerting women that they might be feverish. Another area to study and improve in women’s health!

  • Pivotal Ventures put up $250 million under their new Action for Women’s Health call. Awardees will receive between $1-5 million. Apply by December 3!

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Fun Finds

I have slowly started Christmas shopping but I can’t fully get into the swing of things until after Thanksgiving once I put up the tree. (Though this red coat might expedite my feelings of cheer.) If you are an early bird shopper, some of my favorite things that would make great gifts are Hotel Lobby’s signature scent candle (I’m always buying another one), these rain boots from Target that have served me faithfully for years and aren’t too clunky, and comfy cotton pajamas that are a little splurgy. For stocking stuffers, I recommend the best sunscreen in the world that feels like nothing on your face, my favorite tinted lip balm, and Paris tea (so delicious!) If you are on the family holiday pj train, Hannah’s can’t be beat. My family passes the sizes around among the grandkids and they last forever.

Note: As a solopreneur I use affiliate links for some of the products I believe in as a means of diversifying my income. When you buy something I have linked to, I may receive a small commission from that company at no cost to you.

Katie McMillan
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Katie’s Notebook: December 5, 2024
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Katie’s Notebook: October 16, 2024