Meet Shana Bartlett, fierce advocate for women-focused care

- #TeamCVS: Meet Shana Bartlett, fierce advocate for women’s health    Meet Shana Bartlett, our Executive Director of Enterprise Women’s Health Strategy. Her passion for good health starts right at home with her partner, 10-year-old son and an 8 (going on 18!)-year-old daughter. Learn more about her work and their life in Washington, DC.  What inspired you to join #TeamCVS and what motivates you to continue serving here?    I’ve spent my entire career in healthcare, focused on process improvement and strategy. Before coming to CVS Health, I was a consultant working with hospitals, and my job was always about finding the root cause of problems and designing solutions.   I was recruited just as the Aetna acquisition was happening, which was an exciting time. I saw a huge opportunity to use my skills to help unlock the potential of this combined organization and truly solve patient and consumer challenges. I’m proud to be part of a company that is leading healthcare innovation and transformation. I stay because I get to do mission-driven work that impacts positive health care outcomes for women, including our own colleagues.   What’s a project you’ve worked on that has had a significant impact on you?    Our project on maternal mental health: About one in five families are affected by conditions like postpartum depression and anxiety, and we’ve been working to address the systemic issues. Our team developed a multi-pronged approach that includes offering educational opportunities to providers, engaging directly with pregnant and postpartum members to help them self-screen and training our MinuteClinic practitioners to better screen, diagnose and treat these conditions.   It’s such important work, and I’m proud we have the capability to create change across the entire healthcare ecosystem and provide holistic care.   What’s a myth or misconception about women’s health you wish more people understood?       That women’s health is a niche area of health care that is just about reproductive health. It’s so much more than that. Women make up half of the U.S. population and drive 80% of all healthcare decisions, acting as the “chief health officers” for their families. We need to care for women’s whole health across all life stages and all conditions.  That’s why our strategy focuses on conditions that exclusively, disproportionately and differently impact women, such as autoimmune diseases and heart disease, which present differently in women. It’s crucial for us to continue this focus because a lot of what we know in health care isn't fully understood or designed for women. A little-known fact is that women weren’t included in clinical trials until the early 1990s and are still underrepresented in research today, which means much of medicine has not traditionally been designed for women.  Best compliment you ever received?    Team members across my career have told me that I’m the best manager they’ve ever had. I take a lot of pride in being a good leader and mentor. For me, leadership isn’t about telling people what to do; it’s about modeling the behavior I want to see. I believe in rolling up my sleeves to be part of the team, removing obstacles and empowering my colleagues.   What’s one habit you’ve adopted that helps you stay healthy?     A few years ago, I started exercising every single day. It doesn't have to be a tough cardio or weightlifting session; it’s just about carving out at least 30 minutes to move and strengthen my body. I'm a huge Peloton fan because they have so many programs, and my family loves to hike in Rock Creek Park, which is basically in our backyard. It’s a great opportunity to be in nature close to home, and I like setting a good example for my kids.  Every member of #TeamCVS contributes to a greater sense of purpose. If you're looking for a workplace that values patient care, embraces mentorship, and champions your professional development, then CVS Health may be the right place for you. 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