AMWA members, Dr. Deborah Kwolek, Dr. Elizabeth Garner, Dr. Sarah Temkin, and Dr. Vrunda Desai, participated in the Milken Institute Future of Health Summit, gaining valuable insights from leaders across health, policy, research, and industry. Many of the discussions aligned closely with AMWA’s priorities—including cardiometabolic health, caregiving, dementia, cancer, rare disease, and well-being of the healthcare workforce.
The day before the Summit marked the launch of the Milken Institute’s Women’s Health Network, which AMWA also attended as a member of the network.
Dr. Deborah Kwolek shared these insights from the Summit:
Amazing to hear about the 63 million caregivers in the United States including many children. We need help supporting this unpaid labor. In addition, it was good to hear about positive steps that CMS, the FDA and other agencies are trying to enact to bring down the cost of medications to improve care in the coming years. The focus on women’s health was palpable and quite encouraging. It’s so exciting that AMWA will be at the table as this movement goes forward. The removal of the black box warning from estrogen products is one positive development announced by the FDA shortly after this meeting.
Reduced costs especially for GLP-1 medications are also a priority. The more efficient and speedy search for cures for rare diseases were another focus of the summit. Overall, the summit goals were laudable, however more physician input is needed as health care reform goes forward. AMWA participation can help provide critical guidance and influence in helping shape future directions.
The plenary session, The Next Era of Women’s Health was particularly relevant to AMWA. Dr. Jill Biden spoke about the fact that women’s health shouldn’t be a “niche” category but should be integrated into all health policy. She emphasized that women cannot be left behind in health outcomes and that research, data-collection, and innovation must reflect women’s experiences.
Actress Lupita Nyong’o spoke about her personal experience with fibroids and the limited options available to patients who are living with chronic pain from this condition. Dr. John Whyte, CEO of the American Medical Association, noted that the medical community must do better in listening to women, hearing their stories, and personalizing care. He reiterated that improving women’s health is central to the future of medicine, requiring evidence, research, policy, and physician-driven change.
The summit also explored the mounting challenges facing the biomedical research community, especially within academic medicine, and the implications these pressures may have on the United States’ ability to maintain global leadership in medical innovation.
Engaging in these conversations reinforced AMWA’s commitment to advancing equitable care, supporting women in medicine, and contributing to national and global efforts that shape the future of health.
