Women in STEM: Paving the way for innovation in women’s health

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Sarah Knight, head of healthcare technology at 42 Technology (42T), argues that until more women can be encouraged to pursue engineering and design as a career, then the full potential of innovation in women’s health will never be realised.

The huge under-representation of women in STEM not only limits diversity in the workplace but also the quality and inclusivity of healthcare solutions – and therefore the ability of industry to capitalise on opportunities in this growing sector.

It’s not only about diversity

Improving the representation of women in engineering has far-reaching implications for the industries they can influence.

In our recent panel discussion on the topic of women’s health, one of the strongest recommendations by the expert panellists was that improving diversity in STEM is critical.  As the world of women's health grows, there is a unique opportunity for female engineers to bring fresh perspectives to the design and development of medical devices.

The women’s health field tackles research, diagnosis and treatment of any condition that solely or disproportionately affects women, or presents very differently in women.  Examples include ovarian cancer, endometriosis, osteoporosis, atopic dermatitis, and even female cardiovascular disease or stroke.  Valentina Lorenzi from the Cambridge Femtech Society summarises it as “anything where the biological sex plays a role.”

STEM women are critical for industry growth

Historically, many medical devices and pharmaceuticals have been designed with a one-size-fits-all approach, often neglecting the distinct anatomical and physiological differences between men and women.

As a whole, women’s health issues have been under-researched and under-funded.  But a new generation of academics, entrepreneurs and high-profile leaders are pushing for change. Tellingly, this push is coming from women themselves – from US First Lady, Dr Jill Biden to the 96% of femtech founders who are women.

As the medical field recognises the importance of personalised and gender-specific solutions, there is a growing demand for engineers with expertise in women's health to help companies capitalise on new opportunities created.

The good news, according to Michelle Oyen, director of the Centre for Women’s Health Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, is that we’re moving in the right direction and “starting to see this enthusiastic class of young mostly female engineers who hear about women’s health and want to get involved.”

Designing for diversity among users

It’s not just female patients that have been under-served though.  Historically most surgical instruments have been designed by men for men.

Our panellist Mark Slack, consultant gynaecologist and CMO at CMR Surgical explained that “in surgery, about 70% of women will report difficulty using the surgical instruments they need to use.”  Before adding that companies need to step up in correcting this because it has implications for the patient on the table as well.

The number of female surgeons is growing – according to NHS Digital the proportion of consultant surgeons who are female has grown from 3% in 1991 to 16.3% in 2023.  As surgical workforces become more diverse, there is a corresponding need for diversity in the engineering and design process.  And when women are actively involved in the design and development of medical devices, the result is a more comprehensive and inclusive approach that considers the unique experiences and requirements of female users.

The market for inclusive tools and devices is growing, and better designs will result in safer surgery. Interestingly, the improving gender balance might even benefit patients in itself – Mark says, “There is some really good data to suggest that female surgeons may well get better results than men!”

The future requires diversity in skills and knowledge

The skills and knowledge required in the medical device engineering industry are evolving, necessitating a diverse workforce that can address the unique challenges and requirements of women's health.  Teams need a deep understanding of female anatomy and physiology, as well as the ability to incorporate user-centric design principles to develop products that are comfortable, effective, and tailored to meet the unique needs of women.

A diverse team will more readily recognise factors that might influence a device’s performance or how it is used.  For example, Femtech founder Hélène Guillaume Pabis explained in our webinar that when women’s physiology is impacted by hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. Who knows more about these experiences than women themselves?

Encouraging and enabling women in engineering

To truly harness the potential of female engineers in the medical device and women’s health industries, there must be a concerted effort to encourage and enable more women to pursue careers in engineering and stay in the field.

According to research from EngineeringUK, in March 2022 16.5% of the engineering industry workforce is now female, a significant increase from 10.5% in 2010.  However, the proportion in ‘core’ engineering roles is not so high.

How can industry further promote gender diversity?  Individual companies can take steps to increase recruitment and retention of women and harness the power of a diverse workforce by:

  • Understanding and tackling the effect of unconscious biases on recruitment and progression.
  • Fostering inclusive work environments that support the professional growth and development of female engineers.
  • Considering outreach programs, mentorship initiatives, and educational opportunities specifically targeted at women, which can help break down barriers and address the gender gap.

As the engineering industry continues to make strides towards gender diversity, there is certainly a significant opportunity to positively impact women's health.

The growing demand for innovations in the women's health sector requires a workforce that reflects the diversity of the population it serves.  By encouraging and enabling more women to pursue and thrive in engineering careers, we can ensure that the medical device engineering industry evolves to meet the specific needs of women, ultimately leading to improved healthcare outcomes for all.

The 42T webinar “Overcoming bias in designing women’s health solutions” is available as a recording on the 42T.com website.