For generations, menopause was a whispered word — a phase to be endured in silence. Today, the veil is finally lifting. October is Menopause Awareness Month.
With menopause care taking center stage in national conversations and major public forums, a staggering reality is being brought to light: The years after 40 bring a host of new health considerations, yet 70% of women experiencing menopause symptoms are not receiving related care.
Every aspect of a woman’s health is connected, a fact that becomes clearer as she ages. Yet, the traditional healthcare system wasn’t built to treat the whole woman, Hackensack Meridian Health said.
Midlife Women’s Health and Longevity Program
To address this, HMH has developed the Midlife Women’s Health and Longevity Program. This comprehensive program features highly trained physicians and a multidisciplinary team focused on every aspect of a woman’s health journey.
Located at the Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center at Paramus, 650 From Road (part of Hackensack University Medical Center), the Center is situated just off major thoroughfares like the Garden State Parkway and Route 17, and is highly accessible via regional transit lines.
“Menopause and midlife care in the U.S. is very fragmented,” explains Kanchi Chadha, M.D., Director of the Midlife Women’s Health and Longevity Program at Hackensack University Medical Center. “A woman going through this transition might see her gynecologist for hormonal symptoms, her primary care doctor for general health, her cardiologist for changes in her heart health, and maybe other specialists for bone density and metabolic issues. However, none of these physicians are necessarily looking at her as a whole person.”
Prioritizing Midlife Wellness
At HMH, providers are making midlife wellness a public health priority by establishing a new standard of care. To eliminate the confusion and isolation so many women feel, HMH is flipping the outdated paradigm on its head with a care model that puts the coordination burden where it belongs: on healthcare providers, not patients, according to the press release.
The program’s cornerstone is a multidisciplinary team that ensures collaborative care across hormonal and sexual health, preventive screenings, primary care, cardiovascular health, bone and metabolic health, pelvic floor health, mental health, integrative medicine, weight management, and nutrition. This proactive, personalized approach aims not just to manage symptoms, but to extend a woman’s healthspan — her years of healthy, vibrant living.
“We are incredibly proud to pioneer this comprehensive approach to midlife women’s health,” says Dr. Lisa Tank, President of Hackensack University Medical Center. “This center reflects our commitment to setting a new standard of care—one that empowers women with the coordinated, world-class support they deserve to thrive.”
“Midlife women’s health has finally gained long-overdue visibility,” says Dr. Chadha. “At HMH, we’re building on that momentum to ensure women receive the support they need during this important stage of life.”
You don’t have to wait for the rest of the country to catch up to get the comprehensive care you deserve.
“The future of women’s health at Hackensack Meridian Health is one of empowerment, innovation, and coordinated care,” says Lisa Antonacci, VP of Women’s Health Service Line for the HMH network. “By leaving behind a reactive and fragmented system, HMH is embracing a future where women are active partners in their health, supported by the latest technology and a healthcare system that is committed to their well-being at every stage of life.”
Furthering Outreach Through Partnerships
Additionally, to further elevate the national conversation, HMH has collaborated with MJH Life Sciences and Contemporary OB/GYN to launch a new podcast: The Mind, Body & the Pause: The Perimenopause and Beyond Series.
Hosted by Dr. Soma Mandal, board-certified internist and women’s health specialist at HMH Jersey Shore University Medical Center, the new series features multidisciplinary HMH experts discussing all facets of menopause and related health issues, providing invaluable, in-depth information for providers and listeners alike. Listen to the introductory episode here, with new episodes airing every two weeks.
To learn more about the Midlife Women’s Health & Longevity Program at Hackensack University Medical Center in Paramus, click here.