Katie’s Notebook: June 12, 2025

Written By Katie McMillan

Hello friends,

I can’t believe it is the last week of the school year! My grandma used to love the singer, Carly Simon. In her song, Coming Around Again, she sings “I know nothing stays the same, but if you’re willing to play the game, it’s coming around again.” There’s something about having kids that makes me particularly conscious of seasons and changes. Their academic schedules insert forced pauses that mean both logistical challenges and time to reflect. We are on a traditional school calendar year, so that means next week kicks off the chaos of vacations and camps.

I’ve had a some friends talk lately about how to do less during the summer so the inevitable scheduling challenges are more tolerable. In that vein, I’ve decided to move Katie’s Notebook from a bi-weekly cadence to a monthly cadence for June, July, and August. If you miss hearing from me, I’m usually posting on LinkedIn a few times a week, so come visit me there!

I am wishing all of you a summer filled with memories, grace, joy, and patience.

Let’s jump into the five:

  • Founders: Applications are open for Springboard Enterprises Healthcare and Technology Accelerator program until July 3, 2025. Great opportunity for female founders!

  • Funding: I just came across Ladies Who Launch which keeps an active small business grants database. When I last checked there were 22 open opportunties!

  • Female health: A group of maternal-fetal medicine sub-specialist doctors just published an Op-Ed in JAMA titled, Until Women’s Health is Everywhere, Women’s Health is Nowhere. This is an incredible piece calling for 1) increased spending on women’s health research, 2) engagement of OB-GYNs to set research priorities (this seems particularly important given the lack of medical and scientific background of folks coming into CMS and NIH), and 3) a whole-of-the-NIH approach alongside engagement of other key funders and stakeholders. As women’s health research dollars hover around 8-9% of the total NIH budget, I couldn’t agree more!

  • Findings: How the Trump Administration’s DOGE Cuts are Harming Women. New analysis by the Center for American Progress of data through May 23, 2025, finds that DOGE eliminated at least $3 billion in grants that were specific to women’s health and economic security. This comprehensive piece links to cuts across research, social safety net programs, and workforce programs. I feel like I’ve heard a lot of disparate information about the effects of DOGE and appreciated how comprehensive this article is.

  • FemTech: This interview with Oura’s Senior Product Manager for Women’s Health, Neta Gotlieb, is a fabulous read all about Oura’s women’s health features.

What I’ve been writing:

Fun Finds

  • It’s officially shorts season in North Carolina and I grab my J.Crew Factory chino shorts multiple times a week. (The navy ones are my go-to!) I noticed that they are on sale for less than $20 today! Run!

  • I’ve been on a reading bender lately and have some new book recommendations! How to Age Disgracefully is a fun story about unlikely friendships between retirees, a middle aged woman, and a teenager who band together to save a British community center. I crushed Kills Well With Others, the sequel to Killers of a Certain Age, by Deanna Raybourn, who can do no wrong in my opinion. Both are cheeky stories about a band of female assassins. Looking for a light rom com with good character development? Check out Beg, Borrow or Steal, by Sarah Adams. The audiobook is great! I’ve started two other books this week and I honestly don’t love either. Will I force myself to finish them or put them aside?

  • I made this curry chicken salad with rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and it was a great healthy lunch this week! I loved it on sliced bell peppers or some pretzel chips.

That’s a wrap. Be well!

Katie

Katie McMillan
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