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HIT Like a Girl Pod: Empowering Women in Health IT

HIT Like a Girl Pod: Empowering Women in Health IT

By: Like a Girl Media
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HIT Like a Girl Pod is back—with Joy Rios, Grace Vinton, and Rebecca Love. Three women. Three lenses. One big conversation about the future of healthcare, technology, and leadership. Policy & tech. Patient. Nursing. Each mini-series begins with all three of us around the mic, framing the big question. Then each of us hosts an episode through our own lens—bringing you voices you haven't heard, perspectives you haven't considered, and healthcare conversations that actually matter. We don't have all the answers. We just know these conversations are worth having. This podcast is built on joy, fueled by love, and led with grace. Bigger vision. Deeper impact. Stronger together. Join the community. Subscribe now.2026 Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Management Management & Leadership Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • From Patient to Pioneer: Mariya Filipova on Investing, Convergent Care, and the Oral-Systemic Health Revolution

    From Patient to Pioneer: Mariya Filipova on Investing, Convergent Care, and the Oral-Systemic Health Revolution
    Aug 25 2026
    When a routine physical uncovered a giant kidney tumor, Mariya Filipova’s life and career trajectory were irrevocably changed. Faced with the daunting "standard" medical path of a nephrectomy, she chose to take a weekend to think differently. That single decision sparked an 18-month journey as her own healthcare quarterback, coordinating care across oncology, nephrology, genetics, and computational science—and ultimately preserving both her kidneys and her quality of life. Today, as the founding partner of Marram Ventures and CEO of Proclaim Health, Mariya is on a mission to fix the systemic fragmentation she experienced firsthand. Her powerful investment thesis—"Convergent Care"—seeks to break down the professional and financial silos that have separated oral health from overall health for nearly 100 years. In this compelling episode, she discusses the startling lack of women in venture capital decision-making roles, the connection between gum disease and chronic conditions like diabetes and preterm labor, and why the solution lies in understanding healthcare's complex incentive structures. Join host Rebecca Love for a conversation that exposes the absurdity of a fractured system and offers a clear, actionable blueprint for how patients, employers, and investors can drive the change toward a truly integrated healthcare future. Why Women Investors Matter: The absence of women in venture capital decision-making roles isn't just a diversity issue—it's a market failure. By investing in what matters to the 51% of the population that makes the majority of healthcare decisions, we can build a smarter, more effective system. The Power of a Frustrated Patient: Mariya’s personal health scare taught her that a successful outcome isn't just surviving surgery; it's returning to a full, vibrant life. This patient-centered definition of success is the north star for her investment and leadership philosophy. The Healthcare "Black Box": As an executive at a major health plan, Mariya discovered the system's shocking inability to aggregate simple data, like total employer spending across medical, dental, and vision benefits. The same silos that frustrate patients are embedded in the business of healthcare. A 100-Year Divide: The separation of medicine and dentistry is a historical accident, not a biological reality. The scientific consensus is clear: inflammation in the mouth directly impacts the heart, brain, and pregnancy outcomes, yet the system refuses to connect the dots. Speaking the Language of Incentives: True change won’t come from disruption alone. It requires speaking the language of employers, health plans, and benefit administrators—showing how convergent care can reduce costs and improve quality by lowering high-cost claims (like NICU stays) through better oral health. Key TakeawaysKey Points with Timestamps 00:00 | Welcome & Guest Intro Host Rebecca Love introduces Mariya Filipova, a woman she describes as one of the most incredible people in her decade-long career. 01:30 | The Thesis & The Disconnect Mariya defines "Convergent Care" and explains the investment thesis behind Marram Ventures. She discusses the shocking statistic that only 10-17% of VC decision-making roles are held by women. 05:47 | A Life-Changing Diagnosis Mariya shares the pivotal story of her "accidental find" of a giant kidney tumor, revealing how a routine physical turned her from a jet-setting executive into a scared patient in 72 hours. 08:19 | The 18-Month Journey She details her decision to reject a "convenient" nephrectomy and coordinate her own care. This section reveals her inspiring fight to preserve her kidney and her life, and how she defines success as "full recovery." 15:39 | Fragmentation from the Inside Mariya exposes the "shocking" reality of the business side of healthcare. A simple request to an employer's total spend across medical and dental took a six-week project to complete. 18:09 | The Oral-Systemic Link Mariya connects the dots between gum disease and chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and preterm labor, calling out the scientific absurdity of treating the mouth as separate from the body. 21:20 | The Role of Incentives Mariya explains how to drive change by speaking the language of benefit managers. She details how a single preterm labor claim can cost up to $1 million, and how preventative dental care can prevent it. 24:00 | The Power of the Employer She makes the case for why self-insured employers are the key to unlocking convergence, acting as the "buyer" who has the power to demand integrated dashboards and better benefits. 27:09 | Actionable Steps & The Call to Invest Mariya provides a powerful, three-part call to action for patients, employers, and women. She encourages female executives to start seeing themselves as investors, building wealth while supporting mission-aligned companies. 33:35 | Closing & Thanks Rebecca and Mariya wrap up with final thoughts on the future of...
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    37 mins
  • Investing in Women's Health Isn't a "Nice-to-Have"—It's Infrastructure. Here's Why.

    Investing in Women's Health Isn't a "Nice-to-Have"—It's Infrastructure. Here's Why.
    Aug 18 2026
    What if we told you that investing in women's health isn't just the right thing to do—it's the smart thing to do? Marissa Fayer has spent 22 years turning that argument into action. She's the CEO and founder of the global nonprofit HerHealthEQ (deploying women's health equipment across 12 countries, serving 150,000 women) and the for-profit DeepLook Medical (imaging software that sees inside dense tissue). And now, she's the author of the new book Undervalued to Unavoidable: Women's Health as Infrastructure. In this episode of HIT Like a Girl podcast, Marissa joins Joy Rios to make the case that women's health isn't a niche issue—it's the foundation of a functioning society. Tune in to hear: 🔥 The Economic Argument: Why framing equity as an economic imperative moves money faster than moral arguments ever will. 💰 Move Money, Move the Needle: How consumers, investors, and philanthropists can redirect capital toward women-led companies and solutions. 📊 The Stats That Shocked a Banker: Why a top executive told Marissa, "I literally cannot unhear this." 🧠 From Data to Action: We have the data. Now what? Marissa breaks down small, actionable steps anyone can take—whether you're in a boardroom, at a clinic, or at your kitchen table. ⚠️ The 35-Minute Gap: Why it takes 35 minutes longer to diagnose a woman having a heart attack than a man—and what that means for women's health outcomes. If you've ever wondered why we keep studying the problem without fixing it, this episode is your wake-up call. Key Points with Timestamps [02:45] The Multipreneur Mission: Marissa Fayer, CEO of HerHealthEQ (nonprofit) and DeepLook Medical (for-profit), and author of Undervalued to Unavoidable, explains that her daily drive comes from impacting women's health globally through better screening, technology, and access. [05:30] The Numbers Don't Lie: We have the data on the massive disparities in women's health, but talking about the problem isn't enough. It’s time to move from conversation to action. [06:50] The New Economic Argument: To get traction, frame women's health as an economic issue, not just an equity one. Companies with women in leadership and on boards are better investments and more effective with capital, making it a smarter business decision. [09:20] How to "Move Money": Action includes moving capital toward women-owned brands, asking financial advisors to invest in women-led funds, and supporting healthcare companies that prioritize women. [13:00] What Anyone Can Do Today: You don't have to be a CEO to make a difference. Small steps include asking why there are no women in a meeting, advocating for menopause and elder care policies in the workplace, or sending a form letter to a congressperson. [15:00] The "I Can't Unhear It" Moment: A top bank executive told Marissa he couldn't stop thinking about how women are systematically left out of infrastructure decisions, which was the catalyst for changing his perspective. [16:20] The 35-Minute Gap: It takes 35 minutes longer to diagnose a woman having a heart attack than a man, leading to irreparable harm. This is because symptoms in women (like back pain and stomach issues) are often dismissed or mistaken for other conditions. [18:30] The High Cost of Exclusion: Women were excluded from clinical trials until 1993, and enrollment is still only at 40%. Marissa argues that it is far more costly to retrofit products than to design them with women in mind from the start. [22:00] Women's Health is Infrastructure: Just as we invest in repairing roads and bridges, we must invest in the health of women—because they are the foundation of a functioning society. [24:00] Beyond Conversation: While we still need to share the facts, the priority is action. This means voting with your money, time, and resources to support women's health and leadership.
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    27 mins
  • The $70 Billion Blind Spot: Why Women’s Health is Underfunded and How We Fix It

    The $70 Billion Blind Spot: Why Women’s Health is Underfunded and How We Fix It
    Aug 13 2026
    Less than 1% of healthcare venture capital goes to women's health. This isn't just a funding gap—it's a health crisis that affects 51% of the population. In this powerful kickoff to the "Invest Like a Girl" series, hosts Rebecca Love, Joy Rios, and Grace Vinton pull back the curtain on a system where men (who make up 85% of VC general partners) are making the vast majority of decisions about which health solutions get funded and brought to market. The hosts dive deep into the startling statistics: women make 80% of healthcare decisions, yet conditions like menopause, endometriosis (which takes seven years to diagnose), and cardiovascular disease—the number one killer of women—remain chronically underfunded. They unpack the systemic biases, from male-based symptom models that delay cardiac care for women by an average of 35 minutes, to the social dynamics of "golf course" deal-making that exclude women investors. But this episode isn't just about the problem. It's a rallying cry for action. With the largest wealth transfer in history moving to women over the next decade, the hosts explore how women can harness their financial power to reshape the future of healthcare, build generational wealth, and finally demand the innovations they deserve. Key Takeaways The Funding Gap is a Health Gap: Less than 1% of healthcare VC goes to women's health. This directly correlates with delayed diagnoses, inferior treatments, and poorer health outcomes for women across the board. The 80% Rule: Women make 80% of healthcare decisions for their families but are almost entirely absent from the rooms where health solutions are funded. This disconnect is a massive market failure. The "35-Minute" Disparity: Because cardiac symptoms are modeled on male patients, women experiencing heart attacks face an average 35-minute delay in diagnosis—a delay that can mean the difference between life and death. The Trust and Bias Problem: Women investors face unique hurdles, from being told to "pitch like a man" to being excluded from informal networking and "male bonding" that often seals deals. This is compounded by a trust gap where founders and colleagues often default to male counterparts. The Wealth Transfer is a Tipping Point: The largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history is heading to women. How women choose to invest—and whether they prioritize mission-aligned, women's health solutions—will reshape the economy and healthcare for generations. Convergent Care is Key: The hosts highlight the need for a "convergence" approach, breaking down historical silos (like the 100-year separation of dentistry and medicine) to treat the whole person. Chapters & Key Moments 00:00 | Series Kickoff The hosts introduce a multi-part series on investing, fundraising, and the women's health funding gap, explaining why this conversation is critical right now. 00:30 | Why Investing Now Rebecca sets the stage by highlighting the shocking statistic that women represent only 10-17% of the investor market. 00:43 | Women Missing in VC The hosts expand on the lack of women in General Partner roles (less than 15%), pointing out that the same people are making decisions about products for a population they don't fully understand. 01:46 | Health Funding Gap Grace reveals that less than 1% of healthcare VC goes to women's health. This section breaks down the "90% problem"—where the tiny women's health pie is itself dominated by reproductive health, fertility, and women's cancers, leaving everything else behind. 04:15 | Underfunded Conditions The conversation turns to the "least attention" areas: menopause, endometriosis (and its seven-year diagnosis delay), PCOS, and cardiovascular disease—the number one killer of women that remains vastly underfunded. 05:37 | Data to Action Joy recounts a powerful conversation with investor Marissa Fayer, who highlights the "35-minute delay" in diagnosing women's cardiac events and issues a call to action: "We don't need to talk about the statistics anymore. It's time to take some action." 07:56 | Diversity in Dealflow & Bias in Fundraising The hosts discuss how the lack of diversity leads to blind spots. Rebecca shares a personal story of being told to "pitch like a man," illustrating the double-bind women founders face. 10:38 | The "Golf Course" Problem The conversation explores how informal male networking spaces can exclude women investors, forcing them to work twice as hard to build trust and perform due diligence, often lengthening the investment timeline. 12:04 | Women as Investors Joy shares her awakening about the existence of women's health-focused funds and real estate investing for passive income. She challenges the narrative that investing is "complicated" and only for men. 13:58 | Wealth Transfer Moment Rebecca highlights the JPMorgan study on the largest transfer of wealth in history moving to women. She poses the critical question: "What will women do when they control the assets of ...
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    24 mins
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