Medicines360 Chief Executive Officer, Tina Raine-Bennett, MD, MPH, FACOG, was recently awarded the 2021-2022 Daniel R. Mishell, Jr, MD Outstanding Article Award for her original research article entitled, “Ectopic pregnancy prevention: Further evidence of benefits of prescription contraceptives.” Dr. Raine-Bennett’s study explored the incidence of ectopic pregnancy in the last decade in U.S. women who used prescription contraceptives versus those who did not use prescription contraceptives. The study found that ectopic pregnancy incidence was lower during prescription contraceptive use compared to the absence of prescription contraceptive use. As an organization focused on reducing barriers to health access, Dr. Raine-Bennett’s passion, and keen understanding of the structural challenges, make us well positioned to develop solutions that enable greater access for women.
With over 30 years of experience in the healthcare field, Dr. Raine-Bennett has worked diligently to improve women’s health outcomes, and in her last two years as CEO, has continued this critical work through Medicines360’s mission. For over a decade, Medicines360 has worked to prioritize women’s health over profit, to ensure equitable access. Recently, our Vice President of Communications, Stacey Manley, sat down with Dr. Raine-Bennett to discuss this important recognition, her professional journey thus far, and her hopes for the future of women’s health.
Can you share more about the trajectory of your career and interest in women’s health?
As a Board-Certified Obstetrician Gynecologist, I have always had a strong interest in family planning, specifically in supporting teens and underserved women as they navigate their reproductive needs. Prior to joining Medicines360, I served as a senior research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Division of Research and was the director of the Women’s Health Research Institute. In this role, I expanded research conducted in women’s health and translated the findings into clinical applications. Additionally, I worked to involve clinicians in research with the goal of improving patients’ healthcare experiences and outcomes. So, in many ways my passion to improve women’s healthcare has been infused in everything I do. And I look forward to continuing this pursuit through the mission of Medicines360.
You have contributed to over 115 peer-reviewed publications, how does this study stand out? What do the results suggest regarding the future of women’s health?
Our goal with this study was to evaluate the benefits of birth control. The results demonstrate how imperative it is to expand how we view contraceptives and the conversation surrounding access to women’s healthcare. Ectopic pregnancy disproportionately affects black women. If we can find ways to reduce the chances of an ectopic pregnancy with prescription contraceptives, we are one step closer to providing women with more quality reproductive healthcare and reducing health disparities.
How does this study align with Medicines360’s focus as a nonprofit pharma company?
The results of the study affirm the broad benefits of prescription contraceptives and align well with our mission to expand access to women’s health and contraceptive options. Already, we have worked to make our hormonal IUD available to more than 400K US women who receive care via public sector clinics; we’ve successfully registered our global product in seven (7) countries outside the US and aspire to ensure global product availability in 74 additional countries around the world. My vision is that our nonprofit pharma model can help speed the transformation of the healthcare system by leveraging philanthropic funding and social impact investments to research and develop effective products that can benefit women and their reproductive health. Finally in 2023, we will continue to increase public sector availability of our hormonal IUD so that more women can gain access to the full range of birth control options and control over their reproductive health.
What is your hope for the future of women’s health?
My hope is that collectively, the field continues to develop similar models and interventions that improve access to necessary medicines. It’s truly a domino effect—by reducing the cost of medicines and increasing their access, women have more options and freedom when it comes to their healthcare and lives. I am also hopeful that the body of research in this space continues to grow and garner the support of stakeholders. By investing in women’s health, we are better able to meet the specific needs of diverse women and provide them with solutions that lead to meaningful change. I cannot emphasize enough how vital it is that we pursue research with a focus on supporting women’s health and wellbeing.
As we continue our efforts to address the gaps in women’s health, my ultimate hope is that we contribute to the creation of a world where all women have control over their reproductive health and receive the support needed to make informed choices about their care.
