From Research to Real Impact: Building FemTech at Johns Hopkins

This special live episode of the FemTech Focus was recorded at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as part of a women’s health innovation event.

This panel explores what it actually takes to build in women’s health—from identifying unmet clinical needs to navigating customer discovery, commercialization, regulation, fundraising, and equity in femtech innovation.

The discussion features four innovators building next-generation solutions across pelvic health, menstrual health, fetal surgery, and digital maternal health.

Moderator:

Dr. Rosemary Morgan - Associate Professor, Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Dr. Morgan’s work focuses on understanding how gender inequities shape health systems, healthcare access, and public health interventions globally. Her research spans sexual and reproductive health, gender analysis, and equity-centered global health systems research.

🔗 Website: Johns Hopkins Faculty Profile
🔗 LinkedIn: Rosemary Morgan LinkedIn

Panelists:

Dr. Danielle Nicklas - Founder & CEO, RedEnvelope

Dr. Nicklas is a microbiologist, researcher, and femtech founder developing a self-collapsing menstrual cup designed to improve accessibility, comfort, and usability in sustainable menstrual care. With a PhD in Pathobiology from Johns Hopkins University, Danielle combines translational microbiology, infectious disease research, and user-centered product design to create next-generation menstrual care technology.

The company is currently recruiting beta testers ahead of an anticipated Fall 2026 release.

🔗 Website: RedEnvelope
🔗 Instagram: @redenvvelope

Selena Shirkin - CEO & Co-Founder, Fetal Therapy Technologies

Selena is a biomedical engineer and entrepreneur developing microsurgical devices for fetal surgery and endovascular procedures. She co-founded Fetal Therapy Technologies through the Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering Design Team program and has since led fundraising, product development, and commercialization strategy for the company.

🔗 Website: Fetal Therapy Technologies
🔗 Instagram: @fetaltherapytech
🔗 LinkedIn: Selena Shirkin LinkedIn

Dr. Mary Austin -Founder, UrInControl & Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Austin is a board-certified pelvic and women’s health physical therapist with more than 18 years of clinical experience treating pelvic floor dysfunction.

UrInControl is developing a reusable, tampon-shaped silicone pessary designed to provide women with an accessible, sustainable, over-the-counter solution for stress urinary incontinence.

🔗 Website: UrInControl
🔗 LinkedIn: Mary Austin LinkedIn
🔗 Instagram: @mmcvearry

Dr. Wendy Bennett - Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Women’s Health, Sex and Gender Research

Dr. Bennett is a physician, researcher, and public health expert focused on preventing obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes among women—particularly during pregnancy and postpartum.

Health for Two is a digital maternal health intervention integrating health coaching, smart weight-tracking tools, a bilingual mobile health app, and goal-setting and wellness support during pregnancy and postpartum

🔗 LinkedIn: Wendy Bennett LinkedIn

🎙️ Podcast Host: Dr. Brittany Barreto
📘 Book: Unlocking Women's Health: FemTech and the Quest for Gender Equity
🌐 Websites: FemTech Focus & Dr. Brittany Barreto

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