Bringing discoveries into healthcare
Jessica J. Federer works where healthcare meets technology. In the interview, she explains why gaps in women's health research matter, and describes her efforts to improve how medicines and medical technologies are developed for women. She points to the 1993 US law that strengthened the inclusion of women and minorities in NIH-supported clinical research—a change intended to make research more informative for different patients.
Her examples bring those questions closer to patients. Federer recalls contributing to the launch of a treatment for age-related vision loss and serving on the board of a company that launched a treatment for postpartum depression. She sees curiosity, collaboration and the ability to bring people together as essential to turning discoveries into real-world care.
A challenge without a crisis of belonging
Asked whether she ever doubted that she belonged in STEM, Federer answers no. She still describes senior corporate leadership as challenging, requiring her to think strategically about a large company's future. Looking back on being the only woman in some rooms, she wants more women included. She is less certain that gender was what motivated her at the time.
Curiosity, with room for enjoyment
She connects her interest in science to childhood questions about animals and nature, and to the possibility of turning discoveries into something practical. She also remembers a high-school genetics teacher who made science feel practical and interesting. Her advice to her serious younger self is to relax and have more fun, while recognising that focused work can itself be enjoyable. For students considering STEM, she encourages asking questions and taking pleasure in continuing to learn.