Medical oncologist and author Dr. Elizabeth Comen joins to unpack the long history of how women’s bodies have been misunderstood and minimized in medicine. From the early days of male doctors who believed women were "small men" to the racial bias that shapes how Black women’s pain is treated. Dr. Sharon and Dr. Comen explore how these ideas still influence care today. Plus, both Dr. Sharon and Dr. Comen discuss the dynamics between oncologiists and their relationship to Hormone Replacement Therapy. Have questions? Submit them here.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen, M.D., has dedicated her medical career to saving the lives of women. An award-winning, internationally sought-after clinician and physician-scientist, Dr. Comen is a Medical Oncologist specializing in breast cancer and an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Co-Director of the Mignone Women’s Health Collaborative at NYU Langone Health. She earned her BA in the History of Science from Harvard College and her MD from Harvard Medical School, then completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and her fellowship in oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her research has been published in prestigious scientific journals, including Nature, Cancer Cell, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and The Journal of National Cancer Institute. A tireless advocate for women’s healthcare, she is the author of the national best seller: All In Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women’s Bodies and Why It Matters Today.

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Franchesca Diaz.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You probably have some idea of how medical cannabis affects your brain. But do you know the impacts of cannabis on women's health? Dr. Staci Gruber comes on the show to discuss the ins and outs of cannabinoids and its studied benefits! Learn how research on cannabis shows that it might help with endometriosis and menopause. Plus, Dr. Sharon shares her take on cannabis and asks all the questions you want answered.

Dr. Staci Gruber is the Director of the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core at McLean Hospital’s Brain Imaging Center and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on the application of neurocognitive models and brain imaging to characterize risk factors for substance abuse and psychiatric conditions. She has studied the impact of recreational cannabis use on the brain for over three decades using neurocognitive/clinical assessments, and multimodal brain imaging techniques. Her work has been the basis for national and international symposia, documentaries, and news stories, which ultimately helped inform public policy. Given the many inherent differences between recreational and medical cannabis users, Dr. Gruber launched Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) in 2014, the first program designed to clarify the long-term impact of medical cannabis use. MIND supports projects that aim to address the impact of medical cannabis on important variables including cognition, brain structure/function, clinical state, quality of life, pain, sleep, and other health-related measures. As director of MIND, Dr. Gruber has generated major contributions to the field as the first to assess medical cannabis patients longitudinally, first to acquire neuroimaging data in medical cannabis patients, and as PI of the first clinical trial of a full-spectrum, high-cannabidiol (CBD) product, which she formulated to treat anxiety. Additional, novel clinical trials have been approved and are currently underway. Dr. Gruber also launched the Women’s Health Initiative at MIND (WHIM), the first cannabis-focused research program designed to address women’s health and disorders that disproportionately affect women.

Resources:

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/staci-gruber

https://www.drstacigruber.com/whim

https://www.drstacigruber.com/post/npr-marijuana-rescheduling

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Franchesca Diaz and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cardiologist Dr. Jayne Morgan joins to chat about all about the #1 cause of death for women: heart disease. She shares some of the causes (hint: it's mostly under our control) plus the ways menopause impacts heart health for women. Plus the two doctors discuss how artificial intelligence could change the heart health game by letting people monitor their blood pressure beyond the doctor's office.

Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/drjaynemorgan

Mayo Clinic - Strategies to Prevent Heart Disease

American Heart Association - Understanding Blood Pressure Readings

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Founder of the Kindred Space Birthing Center in Los Angeles, Kimberly Durdin joins Dr. Sharon to talk about midwifery care for expecting mothers and how birthing centers handle delivery differently than hospitals. Kimberly and Dr. Sharon also discuss the pros and cons of hospital births and get into why not every pregnant woman is a good candidate for delivering outside of a hospital.

Resources:

Kindred Space LA

Black Maternal Mortality

Historical Significance of Doulas and Midwives

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did you know endometrial cancer cases are projected to rise significantly by 2050? Dr. Carol Brown comes on the show to explain why the Gynecologic Oncology speciality is so important for women to understand. Dr. Brown also discusses with Dr. Sharon why those numbers are on the rise, and what you can do to educate yourself on it. The doctors highlight how to ensure you know what type of treatment you should be getting when going to see a doctor as it can be treated and often curable if caught early. WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR HEALTH QUESTIONS! Submit them here.

Dr. Carol Brown is a gynecologic cancer surgeon and Chief Health Equity Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she holds the Nicholls-Biondi chair for health equity and is Vice Chair of health equity in the department of surgery. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard and her medical degree from Columbia, and completed her clinical and research fellowships in gynecologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Dr. Brown’s research, clinical, and advocacy work is focused on reducing and eliminating disparities experienced by medically underserved people affected by cancer. She developed and leads the Cancer Health Equity Research Program, a unique partnership between an NCI-designated Cancer Center and community oncologists that brings clinical trials and cancer genomic profiling to underserved patients in their local community. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the 2017 Minorities in Cancer Research American Association for Cancer Research Jane Cooke Wright Memorial Lectureship. Dr. Brown served as the 50th president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology and is currently a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons.

Resources:

https://www.sgo.org/

https://prescancerpanel.cancer.gov/members/brown

https://www.mskcc.org/experience/physicians-at-work/carol-brown-work

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/uterine-endometrial/improving-equity-endometrial-cancer-care

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comedian and heart health advocate ShantaQuilette Carter joins the podcast to share the story behind her heart attack and multiple strokes. Carter shares how her age and lack of family history knowledge threw doctors off for years. Plus Dr. Sharon walks us through how heart attacks might appear for women and what signs you should definitely NOT ignore.

ShantaQuilette Carter, famously known as HeyShantaQ, is a force of nature—an award-winning humorist, entrepreneur, and two-time stroke and heart attack survivor who turns life’s challenges into powerful lessons of resilience, joy, and empowerment. With her signature humor and authenticity, she has built a community of over 2 million followers, generating 1 billion+ impressions across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. As a nationally recognized health equity advocate and founder of Quiddity Media & Entertainment and Girl Be Natural, she uplifts women and underrepresented creators while raising awareness of health disparities.

Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/heyshantaq/

American Heart Association - Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

American Heart Association - Stroke Symptoms

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did you know people with reproductive organs can have as many as 1 million eggs in their body?

Dr. Lucky comes on to talk all things egg related: egg freezing, IVF, other modes of fertility, and the ideal age when it comes to harvesting. Both doctors offer resources to check out when it comes to national statistics plus, how to go about finding clinic evaluations. Dr. Sharon and Dr. Lucky also debate genetic testing, advances in technology and regression in legality.

Dr. Lucky Sekhon is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and obstetrician-gynecologist, as well as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. She is the author of The Lucky Egg, a comprehensive, myth-busting guide to understanding reproductive health and overcoming infertility — written to empower anyone navigating the complex and often confusing world of fertility. Widely recognized for her expertise in egg freezing, IVF, and LGBTQ+ family building, Dr. Sekhon is a trusted voice in reproductive medicine known for blending cutting-edge science with deeply compassionate patient care. Submit your questions to Dr. Sharon!

Resources:

https://www.sart.org/

https://theluckyegg.com/

The Lucky Egg book

And check out ASRM for guidellines

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

00:15:41:05

Physician, health advocate, and author Dr. Uché Blackstock joins the show to talk about health equity and her work to advance it. The NYT bestselling author of Legacy, A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine, he talks about the detrimental effects of racism, how disparities in the U.S. healthcare system affect everybody, and how we can all begin to address these inequities. Plus, she shares how the recent rollback on DEI programs and policies has impacted her work. Do you have health questions? Submit them here.

Resources:

Advancing Health Equity

Turn health equity talk into action: 5 steps for health systems

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.