Why Dr. Sharon Malone’s Keynote at ACOG Marks A Milestone For Women’s Health

This weekend in Minneapolis, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting brought together the brightest minds in women’s healthcare. 

Many of my Alloy colleagues joined me, including Dr. Michelle Montville, our Clinical Director, Dr. Kudzai Dombo, Alloy’s Director of Advocacy and Outreach, and our co-founder, Monica Molenaar. We were impressed that this year, ACOG’s scientific program included multiple lectures on menopause, hormone therapy, osteoporosis, and sexual health. 

And as always, I valued connecting with colleagues, exploring new research, and hearing thought-provoking perspectives. But this year carried special significance for our Alloy community.

Dr. Sharon Malone, Alloy’s Chief Medical Advisor, menopause practitioner, and NYT-bestselling author, delivered the conference keynote—clear recognition that midlife women’s health has moved from the periphery to the center of medical conversation. And further, Alloy doctors are leading the charge.

The Message That Resonated

Dr. Malone spoke directly to the heart of what we stand for at Alloy. She called on the medical community to form true partnerships with patients by providing evidence rather than perpetuating fear, and that is something our board certified physicians and menopause specialists do every day when advising patients. 

In a particularly moving moment, Dr. Malone shared her “RX” recommendations for women’s health. The first one was, simply, “Believe women.” Which was followed by the audience erupting into affirming applause. She urged the thousands of physicians in the room to validate women’s lived experiences and remove barriers to treatments that can significantly improve quality of life.

“There has never been a more critical time for OB/GYNs to acknowledge the challenges before them,” Dr. Malone said, “while continuing to advance our greatest shared purpose: ensuring comprehensive, equitable healthcare experiences for all.”

This wasn’t just another speech. It was affirmation that menopause care and midlife women’s health deserve prime positioning in medical education, research, and practice.

Experience-Driven Leadership

What makes Dr. Malone particularly powerful as a patient advocate is her nearly three decades as a practicing OB/GYN in Washington, D.C. She’s witnessed firsthand how women in midlife often navigate their health concerns without adequate information or support.  

This mirrors what we see every day at Alloy: women entering perimenopause and menopause who deserve better tools and resources. The difference with our clinicians? We listen carefully to women’s experiences and work collaboratively to develop evidence-based solutions that actually help them feel better.

Building Momentum for Change

Dr. Malone's keynote represents another significant step in the growing momentum around midlife women’s health:

• Co-authoring a Washington Post op-ed with Jennifer Weiss-Wolf that helped catalyze federal legislation on menopause research funding

• Engaging in candid conversations with luminaries like Michelle Obama about menopause, hormone therapy and dismantling stigma

• Publishing her New York Times–bestselling book, Grown Woman Talk

• Advocating for and supporting Let’s Talk Menopause Unboxing Campaign, urging the FDA to remove the outdated and misleading boxed warning label on local vaginal estrogen 

Hearing menopause and midlife women’s health discussed from ACOG’s main stage sends a clear message to healthcare providers nationwide: These issues matter and deserve their full attention. This is exactly what Alloy stands for. And Dr. Malone’s keynote planted a flag: menopause care, midlife well-being, and patient empowerment are not niche concerns—they’re central to the future of women’s health.

What This Means for You

As an Alloy community member, Dr. Malone’s keynote represents progress on your behalf.

It means your health concerns are gaining the professional recognition they deserve. It means your experiences are being validated in influential medical circles. It means the standard of care is evolving—and that you’re part of a growing movement demanding better.

Speaking of evolving, while at ACOG we also rolled out our new Healthcare Provider Portal that makes it seamless for all providers across the country to access the expertise of our menopause specialists, so they can focus on the rest of their patients’ care. (Feel free to share with your friends so they can tell their doctor.)

What happened in Minneapolis this weekend represents positive change for women everywhere. And at Alloy, we’ll continue leading these important conversations, and building on this momentum to ensure you receive the informed, respectful care you deserve throughout every stage of your life.