At the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo 2023 (NACDS TSE), Drug Topics sat down with Summer Williams Kerley, vice president of clinical market access solutions at Rite Aid Corporation, to hear her perspective on the field of women’s health. During the conference, held August 12-14 in San Diego, California, Kerley was a panelist for the session “Closing the Gap in Health and Wellness for Women.”
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Drug Topics: What areas of women’s health are most lacking in funding and research?
Summer Williams Kerley: I’m going to say all areas. Only 4% of the money used for research and development is spent on women’s health. If you think about it, I think the majority of wellness product buyers are typically women, but there is a lack of research in general on women’s health issues.
How can we start encouraging more conversations about women’s health?
When it comes to women’s health, people are historically uncomfortable. They are sometimes very uncomfortable talking about fertility issues and sexual well-being, or even things that women can suffer from, like hypothyroidism, or hair loss. It is very important that our pharmacists are proactive and understanding, and not just focused on their customers’ needs from a single prescription, but on all of their healthcare needs. This is why it is important for pharmacists to get to know their clients, so that they are comfortable talking about conditions that patients may not be comfortable talking to their doctors about.
What actions can pharmacists take today to generate support and understanding of the importance of women’s health issues?
As with any topic a pharmacist should learn about, I think it is very important for pharmacists to look at the whole person. Again, a man in his 40s may suffer from something completely different than a woman in her 40s. It’s about really making sure that they can talk to these customers, and it’s about continuing education in this area.
