The Hormone Loop: What Every Woman Should Know About Her Health
What if understanding your hormones could change the way you advocate for your health?
In this episode of the Influential Women Podcast, host Jodie O'Brien welcomes Dr. Gillian Goddard, a board-certified endocrinologist, author of The Hormone Loop, and creator of The Savvy Patient, for a conversation about women's hormonal health, medical misinformation, and the importance of becoming an informed participant in your own healthcare.
Drawing on more than 15 years of clinical experience, Dr. Goddard explains why women's hormonal health cannot be understood through isolated symptoms or systems. From perimenopause and menopause to thyroid conditions, metabolic health, and PMOS, she discusses the interconnected nature of the body and why understanding those relationships matters.
The conversation also explores the challenges women face when seeking reliable medical information, the limitations of AI-generated health advice, and practical ways to communicate symptoms more effectively with healthcare providers.
Beyond her medical expertise, Dr. Goddard shares her unconventional journey from journalism and public relations to medicine. Her story demonstrates how changing careers does not mean abandoning the skills you've developed, but finding new ways to use them.
In This Episode, Dr. Goddard shares:
- Why women need more education about hormonal changes throughout their lives.
- How tracking symptoms can lead to more productive conversations with healthcare providers.
- Why hormones and other bodily systems cannot be considered in isolation.
- How to recognize potentially misleading health information.
- What women should understand about perimenopause and menopause.
- What the proposed name PMOS reveals about the broader metabolic implications of PCOS.
- Common misconceptions surrounding GLP-1 medications.
- Why career reinvention can create unexpected opportunities.
- How communication skills became one of Dr. Goddard's greatest strengths as a physician.
- Why professional success can be measured by opportunities for continued growth.
Through a conversation that connects medical knowledge with personal and professional reinvention, Dr. Goddard encourages women to approach their health with curiosity, seek credible information, and recognize the value of the experiences that have shaped them.
Connect with Dr. Gillian Goddard
The Savvy Patient: https://savvypatient.substack.com/
The Hormone Loop: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-hormone-loop-dr-gillian-goddard?variant=44284991012898
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesavvypatient/
Park Avenue Endocrinology: https://parkavendo.com/meet-our-team/gillian-goddard-m-d/
Dr. Gillian Goddard
Dr. Gillian Goddard is a board-certified endocrinologist and adjunct assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Hospital, specializing in women's hormonal health, including perimenopause, menopause, thyroid conditions, PMOS and metabolic health. With more than 15 years of clinical experience, she is passionate about helping women better understand their hormones and navigate their health with confidence.
She is also the author of The Hormone Loop, published by HarperCollins, and the popular newsletter The Savvy Patient, where she breaks down complex medical topics into accessible, practical insights.
Dr. Goddard has shared her expertise with leading outlets including The New York Times, Goop, Fox News, Vogue, The Washington Post, and Women's Health, among others. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, she now lives in Westchester, New York, with her husband and four children.
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