In a world where women’s health is often an afterthought … fragmented, rushed, and too often misunderstood, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG, is rewriting the script. This July, in honor of National Self-Care Month, her dynamic approach to women’s wellness is capturing hearts and commanding attention nationwide.
A board-certified OB-GYN and Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Shepherd pairs deep clinical expertise with business strategy as an MBA holder. But it’s her fierce commitment to redefining how women experience healthcare that makes her a true trailblazer. Whether she’s treating patients at Sanctum Med + Wellness, Dallas’ first social wellness club, or speaking on international stages, she leads with compassion, candor, and clinical excellence.
Walk into Sanctum Med + Wellness, and it’s immediately clear: This is not your typical clinic. Designed to feel like a sanctuary, it reflects Dr. Shepherd’s belief that healthcare should treat the whole woman: mind, body, and soul.
“I wanted to create a space that sees women fully,” she says from her warm, sunlit office. “Not just their symptoms, but their stories. We treat everything from hormones to heart health to emotional wellness, and yes, that includes the men in their lives too. True longevity comes from treating the whole picture.”
By integrating functional medicine, Dr. Shepherd extends her care model beyond conventional boundaries—supporting not only women, but their partners, their goals, and their longevity journeys.
As the first Chief Medical Officer of Hers, one of the most trusted digital platforms in healthcare, Dr. Shepherd helps shape the way millions of women access medical information every day. “Knowledge should never be a luxury,” she says. “Empowerment starts with information. Every woman deserves clear, science-backed guidance without judgment, confusion, or shame.”
This belief is also the heartbeat behind her newest endeavor: “Generation M.”
“Generation M” isn’t just a book, it’s a blueprint. A bold manifesto for the millions of women entering perimenopause and menopause, it tackles the symptoms so often brushed aside: brain fog, weight gain, mood swings, and sexual wellness. But more than that, it reclaims this life stage as a powerful transition, not a slow fade.
“I wrote ‘Generation M’ after hearing the same quiet frustrations, year after year,” she says. “Women whispering about symptoms they thought they had to tolerate. Apologizing for asking questions. Accepting care that didn’t serve them.”
Her tone? Warm but unfiltered. Like a heart-to-heart with a girlfriend who just happens to be a leading OB-GYN. She unpacks complex medical topics with grace and clarity, empowering women to advocate for themselves without apology.
What’s one thing you wish every woman knew before entering perimenopause or menopause—something that could completely change how she experiences this life stage?
I wish every woman knew that this transition isn’t the end of something — it’s the beginning of a deeper knowing of yourself. If we could shift the narrative from decline to discovery, it would change everything. That’s exactly why I wrote “Generation M” — to give women permission to reclaim midlife as a season of potential, not limitation. Through my work as Chief Medical Officer of Hers, and founder of Sanctum Med + Wellness, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when women are equipped with education and encouragement. When women understand that their power doesn’t fade — it actually gets more refined — they can walk into this chapter with more confidence, more clarity, and more command over how they want to feel. You’re not broken; you’re becoming. And that’s a beautiful thing.
You’ve talked about wanting women to feel seen and heard in healthcare — was there ever a moment in your own life when you didn’t feel seen or heard as a patient, doctor, or woman? How did that shape your work?
What do you believe is the most harmful myth still lingering in women’s health today — and what’s your go-to way to dismantle it?
One of the most harmful myths is that women’s symptoms — especially during midlife — are “just part of getting older” and something they should silently endure. That mindset dismisses real, treatable issues and discourages women from advocating for better care. I dismantle that myth through storytelling, science, and sisterhood. In “Generation M,” I wanted to offer both evidence and empowerment — to show women that they are not alone, and they are not imagining their experiences.
As Chief Medical Officer of Hers, I’ve had the privilege of helping reshape how telehealth delivers inclusive, compassionate care. And through my clinic, Sanctum Med, we focus on personalizing health for women in transition — because your discomfort is not your destiny. You deserve answers. You deserve options. And you deserve to feel like yourself again.
You’ve built a brand that balances clinical authority with sisterly relatability. How do you stay grounded and well yourself while carrying the weight of so many women’s wellness journeys?
What are your top non-negotiables for self-care?
- Prioritize Sleep – “It’s not a luxury. It’s your body’s repair mode.”
- Breathe Deeply – “Just one intentional breath can reset your entire nervous system.”
- Eat Consistently – “Your hormones thrive on rhythm. Skipping meals throws them into chaos.”
- Hydrate and Moisturize – “Water fuels your cells. Moisture protects your skin. Both matter.”
For Dr. Jessica Shepherd, self-care isn’t about indulgence, it’s about sustainability. It’s about giving women tools they can actually use, every single day.
