In The Fifth Wave: Curing the Healthcare Bias against Women, healthcare champions, the IWK Foundation, bring to light the profound and often dangerous consequences the gap in women’s health and research has had on women. The study of human biology has defaulted to the male body, which has hindered understanding of sex-based biological differences and results in fewer available and less effective treatments for women. We have been living in a world built for men, not only in heath care, but transportation, technology and beyond. This series will spark both curiosity and outrage leaving you wanting large scale change – a movement even. With insights from medical experts and researchers, The Fifth Wave challenges the default male standard and asks: What happens when half the population is left out of the equation? We hope to empower every woman and girl with the awareness and information to take charge of her health. Hosted by Avis Favaro.

In this first episode of The Fifth Wave, host Avis Favaro explores the pervasive issue of gender data gaps and how women have been historically excluded from research that shapes our daily lives all over the planet.  Drawing from Caroline Criado Perez’s book “Invisible Women”, this episode unpacks the systemic biases in medicine, urban planning and public policy that continue to favour men.  Featuring thought provoking insights from Jennifer Gillivan, Dr. Maria Migas and Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, this episode shines a light on the unseen forces that make women “invisible” in data.  And what can be done to change it.  

Key Takeaways:

• The gender data gap is real.  Most research, from drug trials to urban planning, has historically been conducted using male subjects, leaving women’s unique needs unaddressed.  
• Medical bias puts women at risk.  Women experience diseases differently, but treatments and diagnoses are often based on male data, leading to misdiagnoses and improper care. 
• Change starts with awareness and action.  Advocates like Jennifer Gillivan, Dr. Maria Migas and Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, emphasize the need for better education and inclusive research to ensure policies and systems that work for everyone.  

Listen in to uncover why gender data disparities matter – and how we can create a more equitable world for all. 

-----

- Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
- Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation in Halifax, NS https://iwkfoundation.org/
- Dr. Maria Migas, family physician and certified menopause practitioner, Halifax, NS
- Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, EP Taylor professor of pain studies at McGill University in Montreal, QC

The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

This episode dives into the persistent gender data gap in medical research, highlighting how decades of bias have led to significant blind spots in diagnosing and treating women. We hear from leading experts, including Dr. Gillian Einstein and Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, about how medical research has historically defaulted to male subjects—resulting in treatments that often overlook or misrepresent women’s health outcomes. Through examples ranging from Alzheimer’s research to pain studies and drug trials, the episode explores why the gap exists, the consequences it causes, and what’s needed to fix it.

Key Takeaways:

• Exclusion Creates Risk: Historically, medical trials and drug testing were predominantly conducted on men, even for conditions that primarily affect women. This lack of representation has led to ineffective or harmful treatments for half the population.
• Inclusion Alone Isn’t Enough: Including women in studies without analyzing sex based differences renders that inclusion meaningless.  Many studies report male and female participation but fail to examine how outcomes vary between sexes.  
• Closing the Gap Benefits Everyone: Gender aware research isn’t just about fairness.  It leads to better science.  Both men and women suffer when sex differences are ignored.  Researchers must treat sex as a critical discovery variable, not an afterthought.  

----

• Dr. Gillian Einstein – University of Toronto Dr. Gillian Einstein U of T
• Dr. Jeffrey Mogil – McGill University  Dr. Jeffrey Mogil - Mogilab
• John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight (2020 episode on medical bias) You can see this episode here:  John Oliver Last Week Tonight Medical Bias 2020
• IWK Foundation – Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation in Halifax, NS  https://iwkfoundation.org/

Special thanks to Farideh for the use of her song “Female Body”  You can find the song on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more.  Her website is www.ilovefarideh.com

The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

In this eye-opening episode, we step aboard “The Menopause Train” to explore the biological, emotional, and societal impact of menopause. Once whispered about as “The Change,” menopause is now entering mainstream conversation thanks to advocates like journalist Tamsen Fadal and menopause specialist Dr. Maria Migas. We unpack the reality of perimenopause and menopause, the lack of medical training around it, and the pressing need for better education, support, and workplace accommodations.  This episode encourages us all—regardless of gender—to recognize, normalize, and support the menopausal journey.


Key Takeaways:

• Menopause is more than just hot flashes.  With over 30 potential symptoms, including brain fog, anxiety and bladder infections, menopause can significantly impact daily life and is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed.  
• Medical training and awareness are lagging behind.  Most doctors receive minimal education on menopause, leaving many women without adequate support or treatment options during this stage of life.  
• Advocacy is fueling change.  Voices like Tamsen Fadal’s are pushing menopause into public conversations.  These kinds of public conversations are calling for better research, resources and workplace policies to address the huge economic cost of unmanaged symptoms in Canada alone. 

----

• Tamsen Fadal:  https://www.tamsenfadal.com/
• Dr. Maria Migas, Halifax, NS  The Menopause Society of Nova Scotia
• Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation, Halifax, NS  https://iwkfoundation.org/
• Menopause Foundation of Canada

The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

In this episode of The Fifth Wave, host Avis Favaro sits around the virtual kitchen table with women to share deeply personal stories about gender bias.  From life threatening misdiagnosis to breaking down barriers in male dominated fields, the conversation reveals the hidden ways gender shapes women’s lived experiences.  And why talking about it matters.  Our guests, Rose Fisher and Carliegh Bell tell us about the consequences of being unheard, and the importance of creating inclusive spaces where women can be fully recognized.  

Key Takeaways:

• Gender bias is not just systemic, it is also personal.  Rose tells us how her heart attack was initially misdiagnosed as anxiety.  Carliegh describes the emotional toll it takes on women to be accepted in a male dominated sector.  
• Women’s voices are data.  The importance of listening to women’s stories to help bridge the gender data gap, and improve systems that have been designed without women in mind.  
• Representation is vital for equity and survival.  As Rose points out, women are not just “small men”,  and solutions have to account for gender specific realities.

The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

The conversation around menopause has exploded….but are there complications with that?  In this episode of The Fifth Wave, we explore the public discussion, celebrity branding and online influencers shaping the menopause narrative.  We get insight from guests Jennifer Barsky, Dr. Heidi Bentley and Dr. Martha Hickey as we look at the tension between empowerment and exploitation.  As women look for answers and relief for symptoms that are often misunderstood or ignored, they are navigating a booming $600 billion industry where we sometimes see marketing and desperation collide.  

Key Takeaways:

• While visibility is rising, so is misinformation.  The flood of celebrity products and influencer advice can confuse or mislead women healthcare looking for real help.  
• Healthcare gaps are fueling the market.  Many women lack access to informed providers, which can push them towards unregulated supplements and social media for support. 

Education is empowerment.  Experts are urging women to turn to credible sources for guidance, like national menopause societies and certified providers.  And recommend a sceptical eye towards online advice that is attached to products and supplements. 

----

• Jennifer Barsky, founder and executive director of the Menopause Global Alliance 
• Dr. Heidi Bentley, Halifax, NS
• Dr. Martha Hickey, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Melbourne.  https://www.thewomens.org.au/research/research-centres/womens-gynaecology-research-centre/wgrc-our-people/martha-hickey

The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

Where does Canada sit on the world stage when it comes to women’s healthcare?  We have some catching up to do.  In this episode of The Fifth Wave: Curing the Healthcare Bias Against Women, we look at what places like the UK, Australia and Nordic countries are doing right, and what we can learn from them.  Expert voices Dr. Jocelynn Cook and Dr. Martha Hickey weigh in on the importance of data, as well as tailored policies and community informed research.  While systems differ, it’s clear that in order to move forward, Canada must build a women centred strategy that reflects its own reality.  And that starts by listening to women and gathering the right data. 
 
Key Takeaways:

• Countries like the UK and Australia have national strategies for women’s health that include menopause care, stillbirth prevention and access to contraception and abortion. 
• The barrier in Canada is solvable.  Differences in delivery from province to province can make national coordination difficult, but we can still adopt best practices rooted in solid gender specific data.
• It has to start with listening to women.  With accurate data on women’s health issues, we can start to build an effective strategy.  Asking women what they want is the first step towards real progress.

----

• Dr. Jocelynn Cook, Chief Scientific Officer for the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.  https://www.pehe-esep.ca/jocelynn-cook
• Dr. Martha Hickey, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Melbourne.  https://www.thewomens.org.au/research/research-centres/womens-gynaecology-research-centre/wgrc-our-people/martha-hickey

The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

Artificial Intelligence is not just here, it’s constantly advancing.  In this episode, we look at how AI can reshape women’s healthcare.  And the risks that come with it.  From smartwatches that collect gender specific data, to algorithms that are trained on male dominated data sets, we look at the promise, as well as the pitfalls of AI in a space that has long been underserved by medical research.  Our guests weigh in on how bias, data quality, and culture affect the tools shaping our future.  And what it will take to close the gender health gap.  

Key Takeaways: 

• If there is bias going in, we’ll have bias coming out.  AI tools often rely on existing healthcare data that skews male, which creates risks for misdiagnosis and inequity for women’s healthcare. 
• Wearables, like smart watches and rings, may be the tool that helps crack the gender data gap by providing a proliferation of gender specific health data. 
• AI is a support, not a substitute for medical advice.  While it can empower patients with more precise language and self tracking, we still need expert diagnosis and human oversight.

----

• Giles Crouch, Digital Anthropologist https://www.gilescrouch.com/
• Dr. Gillian Einstein – University of Toronto Dr. Gillian Einstein U of T
• Dr. Maria Migas, Menopause Specialist, Halifax, NS
• Ujwal Arkalgud, Cultural Anthropologist, Author and Entrepreneur

The Jetsons Pillcam Episode 1962:  The Jetsons Pillcam (1962)

The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

In this episode of The Fifth Wave, Avis Favaro shows us the quiet crisis in women’s health.  Underfunded research.  Outdated medical devices.  And training tools that are so inadequate, they border on the unbelievable - like teaching perineal suturing on a sponge.  Through conversations with innovators reshaping Femtech and reproductive health, including Christine Goudie of Granville Biomedical, Rashmi Prakash of Aruna Revolution and Rachel Bartholomew of HighIvy Health, we explore why women continue to be left behind in medical research, product design and clinical training. 

From pacemakers never tested on women, to menstrual products dismissed as “niche” , this episode shines a light on systemic biases and barriers.  And it highlights the entrepreneurs who are fighting to build a healthcare system where women are finally prioritized.  

Key Takeways: 

• Women’s health is dangerously under researched.  Diseases affecting men receive double the funding.  Many medical devices, from pacemakers to pelvic tools, were developed without accounting for women’s bodies.  
• Outdated and inadequate training harms patient safety.  Medical residents have long been trained using sponges, fruit or cow tongues, leaving them unprepared for real procedures on women’s bodies.
• Femtech leaders are rewriting the system from the ground up.  Innovators like Goudrie, Prakash and Bartholomew are creating accurate anatomical models, rethinking menstrual care and driving policy advocacy.  

The thing you NEED to know: 
Women make up 50% of the population, yet are still excluded from medical studies, device testing, funding priorities and even basic clinical training.  The consequences are harming real women every day.  Change starts with education, advocacy and refusing to accept that “This is the way we’ve always done it.”

---
Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode):

• Christine Goudie, Co founder and CEO, Granville Biomedical:  LinkedIn Profile
• Rashmi Prakash, CEO Aruna Revolution:  LinkedIn Profile
• Rachel Bartholomew, founder and CEO, HighIvy Health, Femtech Canada and Femtech Across Borders: LinkedIn Profile
• Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation:  LinkedIn Profile

his episode explores the fast growing FemTech sector, where we talk about the technology being created to address women’s health needs.   Our guests Rachel Bartholomew and Dr. Jennifer Johnston are both FemTech founders, who created their companies in response to personal and professional frustrations with outdated tools and knowledge in women’s health.  They shed light on the persistent gender data gap, the importance of designing inclusive diagnostics and the massive economic and social opportunities that exist in women’s health innovation.  

Key Takeaways:

• Innovation is born of necessity.  Both Bartholomew and Johnston developed new tech after identifying major gaps in women’s care and treatment options. 
• Data is power.  FemTech offers new ways to generate objective, consistent health data.  This is essential to closing the gender data gap in medicine and in diagnostics. 
• It’s a sector on the rise.  FemTech in Canada is becoming a global player, but still receives just a fraction of healthcare funding. 

----

• Rachel Bartholomew, founder and CEO  of Hyivy and founder of FemTech Canada
• Dr. Jennifer Johnston, family physician and founder of Elle, MD

The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

In this deeply compelling episode, we hear how racism, bias and systemic inequities shape the healthcare experiences of Black, Indigenous and women of colour.  Featuring powerful conversations with entrepreneur Vivian Kaye, cancer advocate Michelle Audoin and researcher Dr. Thirusha Naidu, this episode exposes the hidden ways discrimination shows up.  From diagnostic delays to insufficient medical training tools to the emotional labour women must carry just to receive adequate care.  

Through lived experiences and expert insights, this discussion reveals the urgent need for inclusive medical education, culturally informed care and healthcare systems that recognize and respond to the realities of racialized women.  It’s essential listening for anyone committed to equity in women’s health, patient advocacy and dismantling harmful medical biases. 

Key Takeaways:

• Racial bias in healthcare isn’t rare.  It’s built into the system.  From dismissive interactions to unequal treatment pathways, women of colour face structural barriers that affect diagnoses, pain management,surgical outcomes and trust in providers.   
• Representation in medical tools and research still has a long way to go.  Most anatomical models, reference images, and clinical training material fail to reflect women of colour.  This leads to things like misdiagnosis and care that doesn’t align with real patient needs. 
• Advocacy isn’t optional.  It’s a survival skill.  Guests share strategies for self advocacy, raising questions, requesting alternatives and pushing back when care falls short -kills many women rely on simply to be heard. 

The thing you really NEED to know: 
Black, Indigenous and women of colour are navigating a healthcare system that was not built for them and the consequences are real.  Until representation, research, and training change, women of colour will continue to unfairly bear the burden.  Awareness and advocacy are the first steps toward fixing a system that urgently needs transformation. 

---
Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode):

• Vivian Kaye, business and empowerment expert and keynote speaker:  https://viviankaye.com/
• Michelle Audoin, educator and cancer care advocate:  LinkedIn Profile
• Dr. Thirusha Naidu, associate professor, department of innovation in Medical Education at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa

In this episode of The Fifth Wave, we expose the deep rooted gender bias baked into women’s healthcare, from being dismissed as “emotional” to receiving later diagnoses and poorer mental health support.  

Featuring insights from healthcare leaders, psychologists and researchers, we uncover how systemic bias, outdated medical norms and the invisible mental load are shaping women’s physical and mental health.  The message is clear:  women are carrying a burden that is neither imagined or inevitable and the system must change.  

Key takeaways: 

• Women’s symptoms are routinely dismissed.  Often with real consequences.  Experiencing fatigue and pain, women are often told they are “overreacting”, “emotional”, or imagining symptoms.  This bias delays diagnoses, worsens outcomes and erodes trust in the healthcare system.  
• The mental load and systemic pressures hit women hard.  Caregiving, workplace expectations and societal norms create a perfect storm.  This invisible labour intensifies stress, fuels mental health struggles and disproportionately affects mothers, women of colour and those facing economic barriers.  
• Healthcare research still centers on men and women pay the price.  With 97% of research historically based on men or sex neutral models, women’s symptoms are misunderstood, mislabeled or minimized.  Even postpartum depression studies face pushback for not including male subjects despite biology making that impossible.  

The thing you really NEED to know:
Women are still diagnosed two years later than men across more than 1,300 medical conditions, including depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease.  Not because their symptoms are rare, but because their symptoms are labeled “atypical”, even when women make up the majority of cases. 

---
Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode)

• Dr. Liisa Galea, Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; https://www.galealab.com/
• Dr. Christine Korol, registered psychologist https://drchristinekorol.ca/
• Dr. Naomi Giberson, licensed psychologist and co founder and COO of Nestwell Health; LinkedIn Profile
• Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation:  LinkedIn Profile

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 people who menstruate, nearly 190 million worldwide.  Yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed women’s health conditions.  In this episode of The Fifth Wave, public health Dr. Martina Alberani, women’s health advocate Maggie Archibald and Jocelynn Cook of the SOGC break down what endometriosis is, why severe period pain is not normal, and how stigma, a lack of education and long surgical wait times keep millions suffering, many in silence.  This episode exposes the systemic barriers that prevent early diagnosis and effective care.  Our guests also outline the critical reforms needed, like better menstrual education, improved physician training, expanded surgical capacity and national policy change.  

Key takeaways: 

• Endometriosis is common, but chronically dismissed.  Symptoms often mimic other conditions, like IBS and bladder issues.  With no simple test and ongoing stigma around menstruation, diagnosis can take 5-12  years. 
• Lack of education fuels delayed care.  Many adolescents grow up believing debilitating period pain is just a part of life.  Clinicians often receive too little training, and imaging frequently misses the disease. 
• System level change is essential.  Experts call for better surgical access, updated wait time strategies, stronger medical training, menstrual health education and investment in women’s health research, which still makes up only 7% of Canada’s research funding.  

The thing thing you really NEED to know: 
Severe period pain is NOT normal.  If your pain disrupts school, work, or daily life, it deserves medical attention, and could be endometriosis. 

---

Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode)    https://www.pehe-esep.ca/jocelynn-cook

• Jocelynn Cook, Chief Scientific Officer for the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada     
• Dr. Martina Alberani, public health resident and chair of the Young Women’s Health Group; LinkedIn Profile     
• Maggie Archibald, women’s health advocate LinkedIn Profile     
• Jennifer Gillivan, president and CEO, IWK Foundation; LinkedIn Profile

Resources:
The Endometrosis Network Canada
yourperiod.ca

This episode of The Fifth Wave dives into one of the least discussed but most consequential workplace issues today:  menopause and its massive impact on women, employers and the economy.  With nearly 2 million working women in Canada aged 45-55, unmanaged symptoms like insomnia, heavy bleeding, hot flashes and brain fog are driving burnout, reducing productivity and even pushing women out of the workforce.  

Featuring insights from Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, Dr. Stephanie Faubion of the Menopause Society and Rhode Island legislators Senator Lori Urso and Representative Karen Alzate, this episode uncovers the stigma, the silent suffering and the transformative policy movement emerging across North America.  From invisible symptoms to groundbreaking legislation, this conversation reveals why supporting menopausal women at work isn’t just compassionate, it’s economically essential.  

Key takeaways: 

• Menopause symptoms are often invisible, and women are silently powering through.  Night sweats, insomnia, heavy bleeding, anxiety and cognitive shifts aren’t always visible.  Many women “push through” to avoid stigma or being seen as unreliable.  
• Stigma keeps women quiet.  And careers are paying the price.  Fear of being labeled “hormonal” or “unstable” leads many women to hide symptoms.  This silence can cost them promotions, earning potential and long term retirement security.  
• Policy change is finally happening.  It’s reshaping the workplace.  Rhode Island is the first US jurisdiction to mandate menopause accommodations.  Other states are already moving to follow.  Experts emphasize that menopausal women are not a liability.  They are often an organization’s most experienced, strategic and valuable contributors.  

The thing you really NEED to know: 
Unmanaged menopause symptoms cost the Canadian economy $3.5 billion every year.  It costs individual women $33.3 billion in lost income due to reduced hours, lower pay, or leaving the workforce entirely.

---

Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode):

• Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, naturopathic doctor https://drsarahv.ca/; Instagram
• Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of the Menopause Society and director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health
• Senator Lori Urso, State of Rhode Island
• Representative Karen Alzatee, State of Rhode Island
• Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation:  LinkedIn Profile