November 20, 2025 | Women in Leadership, Women in healthcare, podcast, women's health
The career path of a Nurse Practitioner is often envisioned as a straight line: clinical practice, specialization, perhaps a supervisory role. But for two pioneering NPs, Laura Demuth and Jackie Gianelli, that line took them into the executive suite and a new era of care. Their journeys, shared in a recent conversation with Stacey Hughes, Vice President of Learning and Development at Medscape Education, reveal a shared passion for leveraging their clinical expertise to close some of the most profound, yet often-ignored, gaps in women’s health.

For Jackie Gianelli, a menopause expert and Clinical Director of the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness at Mount Sinai, the problem is systemic. She explains that for two decades, following the Women’s Health Initiative study, menopause virtually “vanished” from medical and nursing school curricula. This created a profound knowledge vacuum, compounded by a “bikini medicine” approach that fragments women’s healthcare into simple systems. Gianelli states, “The reality is that women’s health is mental health… women’s health is cardiometabolic health, you know, and we are not small men.” She and her team are designing an innovative longitudinal care model, moving beyond one-off appointments to offer whole-person, holistic health through the profound hormonal transition of midlife.
Laura Demuth, Senior Vice President at the digital health company Curology, found her pivot when she realized the non-linear potential of her NP license. Starting as one of three clinicians, she helped scale the clinical team to over 150, wearing countless hats in operations, licensing, and people management. The company’s founding mission—making effective skincare accessible—deeply connected to her passion for serving women. Demuth highlights the often-underestimated psychological impact of skin conditions on women, calling it “one of the deepest joys of my professional life” to see smiles “get bigger over time” as their confidence grows.
Both women agree that their rigorous clinical backgrounds—particularly in high-stress settings like the ICU for Gianelli—provided the critical “life skills” to succeed in leadership. Gianelli cites references “calm under pressure” and the ability to work through complex, high-stakes problems as key takeaways. Demuth adds that the NP role trains you to be a leader by default: “You are the center of that patient… you are making things happen around for the betterment of that patient.” This cross-functional leadership and diagnostic ability translates directly to tackling a company’s biggest problems at a strategic roundtable.
Their advice to any clinician feeling burnt out or “boxed in” is clear: you have options. “Don’t feel pressured to get more certifications, but instead, focus on making your existing skills extremely marketable,” Gianelli advises. “Follow your curiosity,” and Demuth adds a critical caution: “If you hear no a first time, don’t take your first no for the gospel.” These working mothers prove that with tenacity and a vision for better care, the ceiling of the Nurse Practitioner role can be shattered.
Follow us for updates on upcoming podcasts and more insightful conversations.
For more information, please contact Jelena Spyropoulos.
About Medscape Education
Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free CME and CE courses for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professional
This content was provided by Medscape Education
Company Details
Latest Content from Medscape Education
Over the past few years, as new diseases have emerged or reemerged, a host of new vaccines have become available while many others are in the pipeline. For older adults,...
📍 September 8–10, 2025 Hilton at Penn’s Landing | Philadelphia, PA Medscape Education is proud to return to the 2025 Alliance Industry Summit (AIS) as a Silver Sponsor and leading...
When she’s not taking on challengers on the pickleball court, you can find Heather Lavigne leading Medscape Education’s dynamic insights and impact team as Senior Director. Her leadership philosophy is...
Medscape Education is proud to return to the Power of Women in Medicine Summit™, reaffirming its commitment to uplifting, empowering, and amplifying women across healthcare. As a sponsor, Medscape brings...
Medscape Cardiology | theheart.org is proud to be at the forefront of the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), September 26–29, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN! With...
In today’s digital age, misinformation spreads faster than ever, often driven by sensational headlines and influencer content. These sources of misinformation often overshadow evidence-based content, creating confusion for both healthcare...
The Medscape Global team is bringing their leading cardiology education and proven impact to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Madrid for 2025. Powered by enhanced technologies, methodologies,...
Medical and scientific innovation are in a fast lane closely pursued by digital advances but their dynamism can mute a vital element of progressive healthcare – patient integration.
We are thrilled to announce that Medscape Education has been honored with the SILVER Award in the Patient Education Information division category by the 2025 National Health Information Awards! This...
We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of Dr. Robert Sidbury. Dr. Sidbury was a visionary in pediatric dermatology whose dedication to advancing patient care inspired clinicians, researchers, and...
