Dr. Jessica Shepherd: Making Women’s Health Accessible

Let’s talk about making healthcare work for *you*. Meet Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a physician whose passion for education has led her to a pivotal role as Chief Medical Officer at Hers. This innovative telehealth platform is dedicated to making treatment plans more accessible, especially for women navigating the complexities of perimenopause and menopause.

A Journey Rooted in Service

Dr. Shepherd’s path to medicine was intentional from an early age, fueled by a strong emphasis on education. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Oklahoma and earning her Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine, she honed her skills through an OB/GYN residency at Drexel University College of Medicine. This foundation paved the way for her current roles.

Today, she’s not only the founder of Sanctum Med + Wellness, a concierge wellness concept based in Dallas, but also serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Hers. Since October 2024, she’s been instrumental in shaping Hers, a telehealth platform that addresses a wide range of women’s health concerns, including hair loss, weight loss, perimenopause, menopause, midlife issues, contraception, mental health, and skincare.

Redefining Healthcare Access

What makes Hers stand out? According to their website, after completing an intake form, patients can receive free consultations from licensed providers across all 50 states and Washington D.C. These providers offer affordable, personalized treatment plans, and prescriptions can even be shipped directly. The best part? You don’t need insurance to access these services.

Dr. Shepherd shared her vision during a fireside chat at the AFROTECH™ Conference: “As chief medical officer of Hers, one thing that we strive for is to really change the scope of what we see in traditional health care… How do we allow everyone to access health care in a way that represents their life, whether that’s with convenience, flexibility, whether that’s with cost, whether that’s with not having barriers to actually getting the care that’s needed?” This approach is truly redefining decades of healthcare norms.

Impact and Innovation at Scale

Hers is already making a significant impact, boasting over 500,000 users and reportedly on track to surpass $1 billion in revenue by 2026. Dr. Shepherd attributes this success to the platform’s “rich network of services and products” and its ability to “decrease the barriers to access to health care.”

As a Black female physician, Dr. Shepherd is particularly committed to leveraging her platform and experiences to benefit others. She sees the intersection of medicine and technology as a powerful force for innovation, stating, “I think that’s really where medicine is profound in what we’re able to aspire to as far as health care.” Her presence at AFROTECH™ highlights this crucial connection.