Katie’s Notebook: July 3, 2024
Hi Friends,
How’s summer going for you? Since school let out three weeks ago my life has been a mix of vacation to Kiawah Island, kid camp coordination, weekends at the pool, and always wearing my hair up due to temps above 90 degrees. Professionally I have been reworking some of my services, chugging along on a big market research project for a client, and showing up more on Instagram with lots of helpful tidbits for the digital health community. (Check out the last few posts!)
I know it’s a holiday week so I’ll keep this issue short and light. Hope you enjoy!
Spite Tracking: Why it’s happening and how it’s changing women’s healthcare. I absolutely loved this article by Theresa Neil in Fast Company. When I gave a Grand Rounds presentation to an OB-GYN department 7 years on FemTech, I started my lecture saying, “Your patients will be coming to you with apps, devices, and data. You need to be educated and prepared for what to do with this information and armed with suggestions for those who ask for them.” The concept of spite tracking speaks to how women’s health concerns have often been ignored or dismissed as anecdotal. (I’ve seen some shocking examples of this among my friends in the last few weeks!) Showing up with real data logged over time, either actively or passively, changes the conversation, and as Theresa (and I) believe, will change women’s healthcare for the better.
A Pinterest Recipe Win: Anyone else have 1,000 recipes pinned you’ll never make? I decided to try this Greek Chicken and Lemon Rice and really enjoyed it! Note: it says 30 minutes but that assumes you already have rice cooked. I got hung up by not reading the recipe all the way through and had to pause and make rice. So if you go for this cook the rice first! (Also I save all the recipes I’ve made that pass the family test to this board.)
Attention FemTech Founders: HITLAB Launches 2024 Women’s Health Tech Challenge. The pitch day is focused on companies bringing, “Solutions that address women’s health issues, including but not limited to companies addressing reproductive health, maternal health, pelvic floor and sexual health, mental health, chronic disease management, menopause, heart disease, and preventative care.” Apply by September 3rd!
The two summer dresses I am about to wear on repeat: I just added this and this to my wardrobe from PACT. I love that PACT uses organic cotton, is carbon neutral, and partners with fair trade factories. Their clothes are cute and comfortable and many of the dresses have POCKETS! These two do! I’ll be pairing these dresses with my ride-or-die Rainbow flip flops that I can get a good 5 years out of before replacing.
Guilty of this: “I have trouble letting vacations (or as every parent knows, trips) just be what they are — a complex mix, like all days: good, bad, lonely, magical, frustrating, beautiful.” This article on Cup of Jo made me laugh and feel less alone in wanting every moment of a vacation to be THE BEST and suffering the letdown when it isn’t. I thought this might resonate with some of you while we are in peak vacation season.
Wishing you a a fun 4th of July. Mine will include these ‘punch above their weight’ frozen croissants, pool time, and popsicles.
Be well,
Katie
Note: I believe in integrity and have personally tried every product that I recommend. When you buy something I have linked to, I may receive a small commission from that company at no cost to you.
