Apple Hires Obstetrician for Health Team to Bolster Women's Health Efforts

[MacRumors]

Apple recently added obstetrician Dr. Christine Curry to its health team, reports CNBC. With this hiring, Apple is said to be looking in to how to bolster its efforts in women's health.

Curry comes to Apple from a stint at Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City, California, which is located not too far from Apple's Cupertino campuses.

Apple employs dozens of doctors at its "AC Wellness clinics" designed for Apple employees. Sources that spoke to CNBC said that while Curry has an interest in women's health, she will be working on "various health issues across the health teams."

When Apple first launched its Health app and HealthKit service, there was no section for reproductive health, but it was later added. There is now a full Reproductive Health section available within the Health app that integrates with period and fertility trackers.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that he believes Apple's ultimate contribution to mankind will be its improvements to the health field.

Article Link: Apple Hires Obstetrician for Health Team to Bolster Women's Health Efforts

 

[omihek]

This is great! Can't wait to see who they hire to bolster efforts in men's health.

 

[PickUrPoison]

This is great! Can't wait to see who they hire to bolster efforts in men's health.

Maybe MR should consider supplying trigger warnings for those who need a safe space.

 

[ipedro]

Great step forward. Healthcare is a trillion dollar industry. If Apple can get a small piece of that pie, they’ll be set for the next decade. We’ve just about hit peak iPhone growth and Apple needs to diversify and find new revenue sources to relieve its dependence on iPhone.

Women account for the majority of spending in exactly the industries Apple is targeting: wearables, fitness and health. Tim Cook knows what he’s doing.

 

[dannyyankou]

This is great! Can't wait to see who they hire to bolster efforts in men's health.

Once you start getting periods and menopause maybe they’ll add it!

 

[omihek]

Maybe MR should consider supplying trigger warnings for those who need a safe space.

That would definitely be a step forward for women's health. I like it!

 

[Doctor Q]

This is great! Can't wait to see who they hire to bolster efforts in men's health.

I'll suggest Thanos. He's pretty manly, so I'm sure he'd be a good health consultant.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Once you start getting periods and menopause maybe they’ll add it!

While I appreciate the intentionally snarky (but humorous) comment, I would point out that men do have specific health issues that could potentially benefit from technology. In addition, there is recent evidence that men indeed do go through a version of menopause (MANopause?).

Regardless, I'm happy to see Apple continue to invest in and expand the use of technology for health-related issues. Everyone wins.

 

[dannyyankou]

While I appreciate the intentionally snarky (but humorous) comment, I would point out that men do have specific health issues that could potentially benefit from technology. In addition, there is recent evidence that men indeed do go through a version of menopause (MANopause?).

Regardless, I'm happy to see Apple continue to invest in and expand the use of technology for health-related issues. Everyone wins.

Yeah I’m sure there are men-specific issues for men, I was just battling snark with more snark lol

 

[Doctor Q]

Presumably, when a company says they are making an effort to "bolster its efforts in women's health" it's because they know that their staff is currently too heavily tilted toward men's health, which in turn implies that women themselves are underrepresented on their staff.

Either that or it's just a PR stunt, which I doubt in Apple's case.

 

[0947347]

Sounded good till the Kaiser Permanente name came up.

 

[0388631]

Presumably, when a company says they are making an effort to "bolster its efforts in women's health" it's because they know that their staff is currently too heavily tilted toward men's health, which in turn implies that women themselves are underrepresented on their staff.

Either that or it's just a PR stunt, which I doubt in Apple's case.

Who knows. Apple may develop a revolutionary prostate exam method using ultrasound and other clever tech.

 

[eeboarder]

Who knows. Apple may develop a revolutionary prostate exam method using ultrasound and other clever tech.

That would be nice. One less finger up the butt.

 

[!!!]

Presumably, when a company says they are making an effort to "bolster its efforts in women's health" it's because they know that their staff is currently too heavily tilted toward men's health, which in turn implies that women themselves are underrepresented on their staff.

Either that or it's just a PR stunt, which I doubt in Apple's case.

Woke-enomics is becoming increasing popular among businesses, especially tech companies. Doesn’t surprise me that they’re trying to get more “diversity” for good PR.

 

[0388631]

That would be nice. One less finger up the butt.

I'm sure it can be done. I wasn't kidding with my post. You'd think with the advances we have in tech someone could come up with a simpler and less expensive and intrusive solution.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Woke-enomics is becoming increasing popular among businesses, especially tech companies. Doesn’t surprise me that they’re trying to get more “diversity” for good PR.

Apple is hardly a latecomer to diversity. Those triggered by the subject have been complaining about Apple’s inclusiveness policies for well over a decade. Apple’s been a leader in this area forever, which is no doubt upsetting to some.

 

[ipedro]

I'm sure it can be done. I wasn't kidding with my post. You'd think with the advances we have in tech someone could come up with a simpler and less expensive and intrusive solution.

Getting there.

From a consumer technology standpoint, it would be absolutely revolutionary if researchers at Apple Health were able to find an indicator that could be measured from the wrist that would alert a man that his prostate needs a closer look by a doctor. That would save millions of lives. Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable cancers (over 98% survival if caught early) but so many men die because it’s hard to detect and the best method to do so is not necessarily something men line up outside doctor’s offices to get done.

 

[0388631]

Getting there.

From a consumer technology standpoint, it would be absolutely revolutionary if researchers at Apple Health were able to find an indicator that could be measured from the wrist that would alert a man that his prostate needs a closer look by a doctor. That would save millions of lives. Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable cancers (over 98% survival if caught early) but so many men die because it’s hard to detect and the best method to do so is not necessarily something men line up outside doctor’s offices to get done.

Precisely my point. It takes celebrities to do it and be public about it to get people to do them. Jimmy Kimmel did one last year and because of him, prostate exam appointments spiked for a while. There have been other male celebrities who did it and got people to go see a practitioner about them.

Not sure about wrist, though. Perhaps a new type of laser that can pass the layers of the dermis and pick up markers of cancer flowing in the blood. Way out of my knowledge, though.

 

[bleak7]

Presumably, when a company says they are making an effort to "bolster its efforts in women's health" it's because they know that their staff is currently too heavily tilted toward men's health, which in turn implies that women themselves are underrepresented on their staff.

Either that or it's just a PR stunt, which I doubt in Apple's case.

Virtue signaling sells to some extent, as long as the company doesn't get too religious about it for it's own good (see the Battlefield 5 fiasco). I mean if you look at the app store main page right now, you'll see some games, maybe a family oriented app, and then generally portraits of women no matter what the app they are presented in does (fitness, social media, blogging, etc.)

And before anyone gets offended or starts throwing labels around, this is observation, not criticism.

 

[owen.meredith]

This is great! Can't wait to see who they hire to bolster efforts in men's health.

Men’s health in general doesn’t require a lot of specialism though. Woman’s health is a lot more in depth due to a lot more going on, especially on a monthly basis, than men.

 

[netdudeuk]

Men’s health in general doesn’t require a lot of specialism though.

How can you be so naïve ?

For example, there is currently no good test (or screening programme in the UK and probably elsewhere) for prostate cancer. It is now taking more men in the UK than breast cancer is taking women. When they do save the man, he can be left with serious side effects. How about starting there ?

 

[owen.meredith]

How can you be so naïve ?

For example, there is currently no good test (or screening programme in the UK and probably elsewhere) for prostate cancer. It is now taking more men in the UK than breast cancer is taking women. When they do save the man, he can be left with serious side effects. How about starting there ?

I’m not naive about it, at all. “In general”, like I said. You can’t compare prostrate cancer to women’s monthly health, along with regular gyne visits and menopause - all naturally and expecting things that are referred to generally as women’s health. More things go on a month for women in comparison to men, and that’s why (once again) in general women’s health is more complex. Cancers are a separate issue.

 

[netdudeuk]

You can’t compare prostrate cancer to women’s monthly health

Of course you can't compare them. Prostate cancers are killing many men every day. You had better pray that it doesn't get you or your mail relatives before there is proper monitoring and a non-disastrous cure.

When you've lived with the same female partner for thirty plus years, you can come back and lecture me about women's health issues.

 

[timber]

This is great! Can't wait to see who they hire to bolster efforts in men's health.

If they hired electric engineers to design Macs it would certainly improve my man mental health.

 

[owen.meredith]

Of course you can't compare them. Prostate cancers are killing many men every day. You had better pray that it doesn't get you before there is proper monitoring and cure.

When you've lived with the same female partner for thirty plus years, you can come back and lecture me about women's health issues.

When you have an education and you’re qualified in something medical please come back to me then, too. But, for the third time, i’m speaking of general women’s health in comparison to men’s health rather than comparing specific types of cancers. Sure, prostate cancer is a lot more tricker than breast cancer for a variety of reasons, but that’s not what I’m referring to.