In this heartfelt and powerful conversation, Idongesit Obeya welcomes Jennifer Cain Birkmose, global health expert and CEO of VivaValet: Trusted Home Services for Older Adults, to unpack the many ways clinical research has excluded key populations—women, elderly people, and ethnically diverse communities—and how that must change. From working with WHO to launching inclusive care platforms, Jennifer brings a rare blend of global policy insight and grassroots innovation.

Together, they discuss how representation in medicine can shape outcomes for generations, how Africa is stepping into regulatory power, and why honoring older adults with autonomy is a revolutionary act. This episode is a masterclass in equity, impact, and respectful healthcare for all. #InclusiveHealthcare #GlobalHealthEquity #ClinicalTrials

This video is about representation in global medicine and we'll walk you through:

◉ The exclusion of women and elders from clinical research ◉ Africa’s move to own its healthcare regulation and drug approval systems

◉ How community-rooted care is restoring dignity for aging populations

➤ EPISODE LINKS:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cain-birkmose-ab05a6/

https://www.vivavalet.com/

https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_cain_birkmose_leadership_in_a_time_of_covid_through_improv_comedy

➤ CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Welcome & Meet Jennifer Cain Birkmose

03:24 – Global Health with Purpose: Jennifer’s Career Story 05:04 – Bringing Malaria Medicine to Underserved Communities

08:54 – The Dangerous Exclusion of Women in Clinical Trials 10:29 – Pregnancy & Pediatric Gaps in Drug Research

12:08 – Why Elderly People Are Ignored in Medical Data 15:02 – Representation in Clinical Trials: What’s at Stake 20:26 – Certification Bottlenecks in African Pharma Sites 26:22 – Community Advocates: The Bridge Between Science & Trust

28:04 – The African Union’s Role in Drug Regulation

33:07 – Elder Care with Dignity: Lessons from Global Cultures

46:05 – How VivaValet Supports Aging in Place

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