I have a big goal: help bring better women’s health training to every federally qualified health center in the country. I believe community health centers should be the first place women turn for exceptional care throughout their lives. We have relationships with families that span generations, teams who understand their communities, and a mission that asks us to reach people who too often fall through the cracks. We can build on those strengths by giving our teams better preparation for the women’s health concerns already coming through our doors.
That begins with recognizing how much women’s health includes beyond pregnancy and childbirth. Endometriosis, persistent pelvic pain, perimenopause, and menopause deserve thoughtful attention in primary care. A teenager missing school because of period pain and a woman struggling through midlife changes both need somewhere to start, someone prepared to listen, and a clear path forward.
Why this matters to me
My wife, Kellie, and our daughter, Sam, both live with endometriosis. Watching them navigate dismissed pain and delayed diagnosis changed me as a husband, a dad, and a healthcare leader. Through EndoDad on Instagram, I’ve since connected with a global community of people living with endometriosis and the families who love them. Their experiences have deepened my understanding of how much people carry while they are trying to get help.
I know I’m a guy talking about women’s health, and I have plenty left to learn. I also lead a health center, which gives me a responsibility to do something useful with what I’m hearing. I can support better education, examine how our organization responds, and bring people together who have the expertise to help us improve. Too many women have already waited too long for care that takes their concerns seriously.
A practical framework we can build on
At Heritage Health, we have developed a draft education framework focused on endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain. It is pending clinical leadership review, but its structure offers a starting point for a broader women’s health program. The idea is to prepare the whole health center, with training that reflects what each person actually does and connects learning to the patient’s experience.
The framework has five main elements:
- A shared foundation for everyone: listening respectfully, recognizing concerns, supporting language access, and knowing how to connect patients with the appropriate team.
- Training tailored to each role: practical education for front desk staff, medical assistants, nurses, care coordinators, behavioral health professionals, and clinicians.
- Short sessions with realistic cases: learning that fits a busy health center and gives teams opportunities to work through situations together.
- Clear pathways and follow-through: local responsibilities for next steps, referrals, and helping patients who encounter barriers.
- Measures that matter to patients: whether someone leaves with a plan, understands what happens next, and receives help completing the next step in care.
My goal is to use that structure to develop a broader curriculum, beginning with dedicated education in perimenopause and menopause alongside endometriosis and pelvic pain. Each subject would need qualified clinical educators, current evidence, and careful review. Patients’ experiences should help shape the program, too, so we address the places where care feels confusing, inaccessible, or dismissive.
Starting together and growing thoughtfully
I’d like to begin with health centers willing to help refine and pilot this approach. Some already have education or processes others could learn from. Others may be looking for a practical place to start. Working together would allow us to share expertise, test what fits different settings, and improve the materials before expanding their reach.
NWRPCA and CHAMPS bring together a community well positioned to explore this goal. I would welcome a conversation about a regional learning effort that could eventually support health centers across the country. We would need leadership commitment, time for staff to learn, and honest feedback about what changes for patients. Education becomes useful when organizations give their teams the support to put it into practice.
Help shape what comes next
If your health center has improved women’s health training, strengthened referral follow-through, or found a better way to hear patients’ concerns, I want to learn from you. If you see gaps and want help getting started, I want to hear that, too. We have an opportunity to build something practical that health centers can share and adapt to their communities.
Visit my women’s health advocacy page for practical resources supporting patients, families, and healthcare leaders. You can also explore my perimenopause and menopause resources and connect with me through MikeBakerHQ.com or Instagram at @endodad76.
My family gave me a personal reason to care about this work. A global community has given me more reasons to act. I believe FQHCs can lead in women’s health, and I want to help give our teams the preparation to make that promise real for the next person who comes through our doors.