The Fifth Wave

In this episode of The Fifth Wave, Avis Favaro asks a hard question: what happens when women aren't counted? Only 7% of Canadian health research funding specifically targets women, a number that hasn't moved in 15 years, even though women make up 51% of the population. Through conversations with Dr. Justine Dol of IWK Health, Kearie Daniel of the Black Women's Institute for Health, and Dr. Alice Aiken of Dalhousie University, this episode breaks down why the data gap exists, how it compounds for Black women and other underrepresented groups, and what it would take to finally fix it.Key Takeaways:Just 7% of Canadian health research funding specifically targets women, and that number hasn't moved in 15 years, according to a 2025 study of Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants.
Closing the women's health research gap could add an estimated $37 billion a year to the Canadian economy by 2040, according to the McKinsey Health Institute.
Black women in Canada are chronically underrepresented in health data. Voices Unheard, the first national survey of its kind, found that 42% of Black women delay seeking care out of fear of how they'll be treated.
Disaggregated data, broken down by race, age and other factors, reveals gaps that averages hide, and it's the only way to actually fix the system for everyone.
The thing you really NEED to know:You can't fix what you can't measure. Until Canada collects, funds and actually uses disaggregated data on women's health, including Black women, Indigenous women and other underrepresented groups, the healthcare system will keep being built around a population it was never designed to serve.
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Guest Info/Resources: Dr. Justine Dol, Dr. Margaret Oulton Accelerate Chair in Women+ Health Research, IWK Health: justinedol.com
Kearie Daniel, Founder and Executive Director, Black Women's Institute for Health: LinkedIn Profile
Dr. Alice Aiken, Professor, School of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University; co-founder, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research: LinkedIn Profile
Resource: Maritime Women+ Health Priority Setting Partnership Study
Resource: Voices Unheard: Healthcare Barriers and the Lived Experience of Black Women in Canada, Black Women's Institute for Health (November 2025).

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the hosts, guests, and participants of the Fifth Wave belong solely to the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the IWK Foundation. The information discussed in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical, legal, or professional advice from the IWK Foundation. While we strive for accuracy, the IWK Foundation makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this podcast and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of The Fifth Wave, Avis Favaro looks at how Europe is pushing women's health policy forward, and what Canada can learn from it. Since 1957, gender equality has been part of EU law, but almost seven decades later, true equality still hasn't been achieved anywhere, including in healthcare. Through conversations with Peggy Maguire of the European Institute of Women's Health, Dr. Martina Alberani of the Young Women's Health Group, Jennifer Gillivan of the IWK Foundation, and Dr. Graeme Smith of Queen's University, this episode explores concrete European policy wins, like paid menstrual leave in Spain and free period products in Scotland, and asks what it would take for Canada to build its own national women's health strategy.

Key Takeaways:
Europe has taken concrete policy action: paid menstrual leave in Spain, free period products in Scotland, and a 2014 EU mandate requiring gender to be included in clinical trials.
Progress is inconsistent even within Europe. The EU has 27 member states with very different systems, and being listened to and believed remains the single biggest factor shaping women's care.
Canada is starting to move. A bill to establish a national framework for women's health has been introduced in the Senate, but progress is still a patchwork of provincial plans.
Canadian innovation is already leading internationally. Dr. Graeme Smith's postpartum maternal health record, developed in Kingston, has been translated into more than a dozen languages and is now recommended globally by FIGO, the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics.
The thing you really NEED to know:
Equity in women's health doesn't happen by accident. It happens when data, policy and lived experience come together in the same room. Canada doesn't need to reinvent the system, it needs to assemble what already works and hold itself accountable to measurable outcomes.
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Resources & Guest Information:
Peggy Maguire, Director General, European Institute of Women's Health.
Dr. Martina Alberani, public health physician and Chair, Young Women's Health Group.
Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation: LinkedIn Profile
Dr. Graeme Smith, Professor and Head, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Queen's University; editor-in-chief, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada: Faculty Profile

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the hosts, guests, and participants of the Fifth Wave belong solely to the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the IWK Foundation. The information discussed in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical, legal, or professional advice from the IWK Foundation. While we strive for accuracy, the IWK Foundation makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this podcast and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use. Listener discretion is advised.

Movement is one of the most powerful…and overlooked…tools for women’s long term health.  In this episode of The Fifth Wave, insights from sport and exercise physician Dr. Tina Atkinson, athletic trainer Kaelin Agar, strength coach Michelle MacDonald and neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Galea help to break down how every day activity can transform women’s physical, mental and cognitive well being.  From age related muscle loss to the mental health benefits of exercise, to a stunning fitness transformation that began at age 70, this episode reframes movement as essential medicine. The message is clear, women don’t need perfection or extreme workouts.  They need consistent, enjoyable movement that supports strength, energy, longevity and confidence.  

Key takeaways: 

Movement is medicine.  Especially for women.  Women lose bone density and muscle mass earlier and faster than men.  Regular strength training and daily activity significantly reduce the risk of osteoporosis, mobility issues and chronic disease. 
You don’t need intense workouts.  You need consistency.  Experts emphasize that walking, light strength work and movement you genuinely enjoy are more sustainable and far more impactful than short bursts of extreme effort.  
It’s never too late to get stronger.  Michelle MacDonald’s 70 year old mother transformed her health with simple, consistent training.  Proving that women can build strength function and confidence at any age. 
The thing you really NEED to know:  
Exercise is more effective than medication in preventing stroke and heart disease, which are the top causes of death for women.  Small, consistent habits can literally save lives.
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Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode)
Dr. Tina Atkinson, sport and exercise physician, Chief Medical Officer of The Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic;  Maritime Sport Medicine; LinkedIn Profile
Kaelin Agar, athletic trainer, Agar Athletics
Michelle MacDonald, fitness and strength coach, founder and CEO of The Wonder Women; Train With Joan
Dr. Liisa Galea: Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; https://www.galealab.com/

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the hosts, guests, and participants of the Fifth Wave belong solely to the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the IWK Foundation. The information discussed in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical, legal, or professional advice from the IWK Foundation. While we strive for accuracy, the IWK Foundation makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this podcast and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use. Listener discretion is advised.

Nearly 50% of young women report negative healthcare experiences.  And that is more and more visible in postpartum care.  In this episode of The Fifth Wave, Avis Favaro explores why new mothers often “fall off a cliff” once the baby arrives, what the six week check up does and doesn’t cover, and how major gaps in Canada’s healthcare system are putting maternal physical and mental health at risk.  Leading voices, Dr. Graeme Smith, psychologist Dr. Naomi Giberson and Nestwell Health co-founder Ellen Cohen unpack the consequences of inadequate postpartum care:  missed diagnosis, untreated mental health concerns, inequitable access to support and overwhelmed clinicians.  They also highlight innovative solutions, from interdisciplinary virtual clinics to female led models that proactively support mothers before crisis hits.  

Key takeaways: 

Postpartum care in Canada is inconsistent and often insufficient, with many mothers receiving only a six week check up.  If that.  This leads to missed issues like iron deficiency, hypertension, diabetes follow up and mental health concerns.
Mental health needs are critical and under-recognized.  In Nova Scotia, 31% of women experience postpartum depression or anxiety, with real impacts on mother baby bonding and long term child development. 
Women-led interdisciplinary models like Nestwell are emerging to fill dangerous gaps, but unequal access means many families still cannot get the wrap-around support they need.  System level change is essential.  
The thing you really NEED to know:
Postpartum care isn't something that’s “nice to have”.  It’s an essential medical care that protects mothers, babies and future pregnancies.
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Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode)
Dr. Graeme Smith, Professor of Maternal and Fetal Medicine and head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queen’s University; editor- in- chief of The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; The Postpartum Health Record
Dr. Naomi Giberson, licensed psychologist and co founder and COO of Nestwell Health; LinkedIn Profile
Ellen Cohen, co founder and CEO of Nestwell Health;    LinkedIn Profile
Jennifer Gillivan, president and CEO, IWK Foundation; LinkedIn Profile
The MotHERS Program

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the hosts, guests, and participants of the Fifth Wave belong solely to the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the IWK Foundation. The information discussed in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical, legal, or professional advice from the IWK Foundation. While we strive for accuracy, the IWK Foundation makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this podcast and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use. Listener discretion is advised.

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. 

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

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the hosts, guests, and participants of the Fifth Wave belong solely to the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the IWK Foundation. The information discussed in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical, legal, or professional advice from the IWK Foundation. While we strive for accuracy, the IWK Foundation makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this podcast and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use. Listener discretion is advised.