We are all about midlife women.

Our Mission

The Institute of Women’s Futures is a 501c3 educational foundation dedicated to [the art and] science of midlife women’s thriving. Imagine a future where healthcare providers are equipped with extensive training and expertise in menopause care, where midlife women receive the attention and support they deserve. 


Our Story

In a world where midlife women too often find themselves navigating healthcare systems ill-equipped to address their needs, we're forging a new path. Picture a future where healthcare providers are not just knowledgeable but deeply attuned to the nuances of menopause care, where midlife women are not merely seen but truly heard and supported. This is the future we're striving for—a future where every woman entering midlife has the resources and support necessary to not just survive, but to thrive.

At The Institute for Women's Futures, we understand the unique challenges facing midlife women. Historically underserved by the medical community, many of us have found ourselves grappling with health issues, financial instability, and a lack of cultural recognition. But we refuse to accept this status quo. We believe that by addressing these gaps in care and support, we can unlock the full potential of midlife women everywhere.

When midlife women are empowered with access to high-quality healthcare, the ripple effects are profound. Imagine the impact of a generation of healthcare providers trained to provide compassionate, comprehensive care to midlife women, even in the most underserved communities. By supporting our mission, you're not just investing in the future of midlife women—you're laying the groundwork for a more equitable, healthier world for all.

Join us in this vital work. Together, we can ensure that every midlife woman has the resources, support, and opportunities she needs to thrive. Together, we can shape a future where midlife is not a period of decline, but a time of empowerment, growth, and endless possibilities. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.

Why we do what we do

  • More than one billion women will be of menopausal age by year 2025.

  • Nearly 20 percent of women considering leaving their job at midlife, due to stressors of menopause.

  • More than 1.8 billion dollars is lost each year due to absenteeism due to menopausal symptoms.

  • Women of color are affected disproportionately at menopause, with average length of symptoms lasting nearly 10 years.

  • There are more than 33 symptoms recognized by the Menopause Society (NAMS)

  • Most doctors receive an average of 1-4 hours of total education about midlife health.

  • Many women will visit at minimum 3 providers before they are offered help for their menopause.

  • 600 women enter menopause each hour.

  • Alicia Dara

    FOUNDER

    Alicia Dara is a nationally recognized Executive communication coach. Corporate partnerships include Microsoft, Amazon, Columbia Bank, Kimpton Hotels, Planned Parenthood, and The Sequoia Project. Private clients include the National Women's Political Caucus, Graham & Walker and members of Meta, Merrill Lynch, Booz Allen, Charles Schwab, and Deloitte. She has volunteered extensively in public health and served on the Board of Advocates of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest. Alicia has an extensive music performance background and is the founder of award-winning indie folk band Diamondwolf. In 2023 Alicia became the Founder and Editor in Chief of Womancake Magazine, a platform for women over age 40. 

  • Alisa Kennedy Jones

    FOUNDER

    Alisa Kennedy Jones is a bespoke brand consultant and bestselling author who is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on brand intelligence. Fluent in five languages, her celebrated TEDx talk on epilepsy changed the way we think about creativity, electricity, and the brain, and her debut bestseller "Gotham Girl, Interrupted" became a global phenomenon in the field of narrative medicine. Alisa currently heads up a variety of initiatives for Cakewalk Ventures, Ltd., including The Empress, gotham girl, and DIA. As a memoirist, blogger, and screenwriter, her words have been featured widely across national media outlets such as NPR, TEDx, and as part of the Academy Award-nominated documentary CRIP CAMP, Executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. An advocate for disability, neurodiversity, mental health, and epilepsy, her collection of comedic essays GOTHAM GIRL INTERRUPTED (Imagine!/Penguin Random House) was a #1 new release on Amazon and is available everywhere books are sold as well as on Bookshop.org, IndieBound, and Barnes & Noble.

  • Heather Bartos, MD

    FOUNDER

    Dr. Heather Bartos is an OB/GYN, menopause specialist, advocate, author, and speaker, recognized as one of the nation's top five experts in menopause by Oprah Winfrey and Maria Shriver. Her mission is to dismantle the taboos surrounding menopause and sexuality, empowering women through transformative midlife transitions. Leading the Menopause Rocks and Menopause Works programs, Dr. Bartos is at the forefront of revolutionizing care for menopause, both personally and in the workplace. 

    
Her diverse background from PR to medicine to Reiki Practitioner and service in the US Navy, underscores her holistic and personalized approach to healthcare. Featured in Shape, Glamour, Refinery29, ABC News, and more, her insights are pivotal in changing the narrative around aging and menopause. Cosmo magazine celebrates her as a 'supremely badass gyno,' highlighting her significant impact on women's health advocacy.  She is CEO/Medical Director of Be. Women’s Health & Wellness, “a village for women’s health,” in Frisco, Texas.

Soon, you can make a donation.

Want to help midlife women’s futures? Your contribution is 100% to serve those who will serve our midlife women.

Your seed money will help all midlife women—and future generations of midlife women—bloom and thrive,