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DISRxUPT is a podcast from the Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation which explores novel advances in the practice of pharmacy. From nanotechnology to unique public health initiatives, DISRxUPT will highlight stories of pharmacists who are changing the paradigm of patient care.
Tune in for new content once a month detailing how the profession of pharmacy continues to change and how the Center for Pharmacy Innovation is playing a key role in this transformation.
Welcome to DISRxUPT, a podcast of the Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation. Today on the podcast, our guest is doctor Tiffany Ruder, a pharmacist who's transforming women's health and the conversation around hormone balance. From community pharmacy to founding better health and hormonal balance, Tiffany's work is helping women in perimenopause and menopause reclaim energy, mood, and vitality through evidence based root cause care.
Justin Cole:DISRxUPT listeners, welcome back. We are excited to be joining you again for our November 2025 episode, and we've got an exciting one today. Joining me again is Shannon, my co host. Shannon, how are you doing?
Shannon Yarosz:I'm doing good today, Justin. I'm really excited to be here.
Justin Cole:Yeah, I'm excited also to have Tiffany as our guest. Tiffany and I, I guess we connected, it was maybe six months ago now. In our first conversation, to learn a little bit about her work. I saw so much passion and also a willingness to kind of think outside the box and to think pragmatically on how patients can really be helped in such easy ways. So I hope we get into some of those things, Tiffany.
Justin Cole:I don't want to give too much of our questions and podcast away, but we're excited to have you on the podcast. Thanks for joining us.
Tiffany Ruder:I'm so excited to be here. Thanks for having me.
Justin Cole:Alright. Well, as we typically do, we wanna give you a bit of an open mic here to tell your story. So tell us a bit about your background and anything you think would be pertinent for our listeners to know about you.
Tiffany Ruder:Sure. So I'm originally from Kansas. So but I live currently in Houston, Texas. So I always say that my roots and my boots are in Texas, but my heart will forever be in Kansas. I went to the University of Kansas for pharmacy school, graduated 2012.
Tiffany Ruder:From there, my husband and I quickly moved to Texas for his work. I started out, just big chain retail pharmacy. So I did that, you know, through pharmacy school, technician, intern, all the roles. And then I moved, started working with CVS in Corpus Christi, Texas. Great experience.
Tiffany Ruder:Had amazing mentors. Kinda went through that traditional route of retail pharmacy. Started as a staff, worked my way up to pharmacy manager. Essentially, kind of down that path of maybe climbing the, quote, unquote, corporate ladder. Just kinda thought that's where I needed to be, and that's what you just did in retail pharmacy.
Tiffany Ruder:But from there, we moved to the Houston area, had a couple of kids along the way, and then had a major pandemic. And so a lot of things shifted during that time. After baby number two, I just really felt that retail was becoming too much for me to manage. Unfortunately, I was constantly feeling like I was deciding between my family or between work, which just became a very compromised position. So I wanted to explore other options outside of chain retail pharmacy.
Tiffany Ruder:So from there, I honestly went old school, freshened up the resume, started knocking on doors, talking to people. And I found an opportunity at a compounding pharmacy in Houston, Texas. It's called Doyle's Pharmacy. And they specialize in bio identical hormone replacement therapy, which for those who aren't very familiar with it, not surprising because a lot of people aren't very familiar with it. Even as a pharmacist, in pharmacy school, I felt like we mainly talked about Premarin or maybe Prempro, maybe a little extra test or FemRing.
Tiffany Ruder:It was maybe a one day class. It was a short blurb on a test. And, perimenopausal menopausal health care from a pharmacy perspective was really just not taught thoroughly. It wasn't really explained. And here I was working at a pharmacy needing to know all this knowledge.
Tiffany Ruder:So started doing a deep dive into hormones, really understanding what is the difference between synthetic and bio identical. And really at the root of it all is just really being able to impact the clients that are there, the customers that are coming in. By the time they find compounding pharmacies, most have gone to four to five different doctors. They've been told no, they've been dismissed, they've been told their symptoms are in their head. Like, they've gone through a lot of trials, truly, that by the time they finally find a, you know, practitioner who's willing to listen to them and really help them in that regard, they are ready.
Tiffany Ruder:Like, they are ready to start feeling better. And as a pharmacist, I almost felt maybe a little ill prepared to handle those conversations, to give adequate counseling, to really explain how are these hormones impacting the body. So I took it upon myself to do, my own self study. I got, certified as a hormone replacement therapy specialist to make a greater impact. And through that journey of study, of learning more about the human body, about women's bodies, it just ignited a flame in me.
Tiffany Ruder:So at that point, I could just feel God's calling that there's so much more I can do outside of the pharmacy counter. So that's kind of my my, little catchphrase. Like, I'm stepping out from behind the pharmacy counter. Right? You only sometimes have five, ten minutes to have a conversation.
Tiffany Ruder:And these women deserve so much more than five or ten minutes of our time. And so that's when I just really felt it on my heart to start my own business. I am the founder of Better Health and Hormone Balance, and it allows me to work with women in a one on one space to give them the time, the attention, and really like the healing that they deserve along this wellness journey.
Shannon Yarosz:That's great. And, you know, as you've mentioned there in your story about how women's hormonal health is, you know, kind of overlooked, what are some of the biggest misconceptions or blind spots you've kind of encountered during your experience?
Tiffany Ruder:A lot of gosh, there's a lot there's a lot here. A lot to unpack here. So a lot of the things that I have noticed is, because of the way our medical model is designed, and it's not by any fault of anyone, we have found that we start to parse out the body parts. So a woman might start, honestly, before the hot flashes and night sweats, she might notice more irregular mood changes. Right?
Tiffany Ruder:So now she's like a little bit more moody. Maybe she's not sleeping as well. So we start looking at these specialists. So maybe we're going to a neurologist because we're having migraines. Maybe we're going to a GI specialist because we're having some gut disruption.
Tiffany Ruder:A lot of those are actually early signs of perimenopause. But because we're so used to kind of seeing those specialists, we are only looking at that organ of the body and we're not looking at the system as a whole. That these hormones are impacting our digestion, that these hormone changes are impacting our neurochemistry. They're not just hormones of reproduction. They are hormones that affect even heart rate.
Tiffany Ruder:So women will start having palpitations as they go through perimenopause. So now they're at the cardiologist's office because, you know, they're terrified that they're having early signs. So it's it's tough because I think we're not putting the body back together as a whole. We're starting to parse it out. And so I think that's a big, definitely an area to explore and then also definitely an area of opportunity as providers, as health care providers to kind of start putting those separate pieces of the body back together.
Justin Cole:So you've mentioned these gaps really in maybe understanding the holistic causes of some of the changes that happen. But let's also talk about the gap in education. So the statistics are pretty striking and they highlight why your work matters. So from what I understand, only about one in five OBGYN residency programs even include menopause training. So how did you first recognize this gap and how do you think pharmacists can be a part of the solution?
Tiffany Ruder:I think I first recognized it by just honestly being kind on the front lines. So women coming in, not really understanding what's happening to their body and also being handed what I like to call band aid fixes. But I have seen so many women coming in that have had ablations because they're having heavy periods, or heavy cycles. And unfortunately, because there's a lack in training and a lack of education, instead of getting to the root of why that's happening, it's a fix to do an ablation or do a hysterectomy. And granted, there are so many times where it is necessary.
Tiffany Ruder:I'm not going to knock that. It's definitely not my area of practice. I just always like to ask why a little bit deeper. Like, why are we going through this? Why are we having these symptoms?
Tiffany Ruder:Why are we having heavy cycles? How long has this been happening? And I think from an education standpoint as a pharmacist, you know, in a sense, we're the very first ones people are going to come and see. So, you know, even as you're picking up a prescription for your child, you're having an interaction with a pharmacist. And they're asking like, how has your day been?
Tiffany Ruder:How are things going? So I think from a pharmacist standpoint, because we're so easily accessible, we see a lot of different people coming in and out. It's a great opportunity for us to really kind of reach out, have those tougher conversations, but also not be afraid to ask why and to to really build that trust with, a patient to get to know them and kind of look a little bit deeper. And I would say same with our education in the pharmacy side, understanding the pharmacology behind it. We don't have as many tools, but we have a lot more coming out.
Tiffany Ruder:So we do have bio identical hormone replacement therapy options in the retail setting. Estradiol patches, elestrin cream. We have different micrometrium, like the micronized progesterone. We do have a lot of options, lot of tools in our tool belt. And I think it is our responsibility to understand how they work in the body so we can also have, you know, the biggest impact and help help a woman understand all of her alternatives, understand so she can give the most informed consent during her, you know, a very difficult time in her life.
Shannon Yarosz:That's great. Thank you. And something that made me think about just work in general, as you were talking about, it seems as though if these symptoms kind of start occurring and you're not used to them, how that really might affect your workplace and how you feel about work. So what changes could healthcare systems or workplaces maybe make to better support women through this transition, while they're working?
Tiffany Ruder:That's an awesome question to ask. I think there's a lot that workplaces can do. I think having more options, especially from a health care standpoint, being able to provide or even contract with more providers, also providers that are specially trained. So you're going to see more of like your functional medicine doctors, even if they're not contracted with insurance, but maybe providing some sort of, potential contract with them. Also providing just other services, being able to provide time off when there is needed time off without any sort of like reprimand or stigma, I think maybe around that.
Tiffany Ruder:I think also just being able to have more normalized conversations. For a long time, it just was not discussed. I think even with my parents' generation, was just not discussed. Even myself going through like health classes, it was just not discussed. So I think being able to help normalize conversations, I would love to see more workplaces bringing in more education, speaking opportunities, which was one of the speaking opportunities that I had.
Tiffany Ruder:I got to speak at a, a corporate event for a company about health and wellness and the, you know, the transition that happens, the hormones that are at play and being able to provide that education as well as actionable items. So like now that we know about it, what are we going to do about it? You know, what are the steps that we can take, to help support each person and what can they make on their own, give them a little bit more empowerment that they understand that they can get a little bit more control of that transition that's happening to them.
Justin Cole:I think those are great suggestions, Tiffany. If I remember back to our first conversation, you talked a lot about redefining the idea of perimenopause, not something to fix necessarily, but something to understand and kind of work with. So what does it mean to you to kind of reframe perimenopause as a transition rather condition? And how do you feel like that shifts your care approach?
Tiffany Ruder:I think it definitely takes it from maybe some of the like societal norms. And I think in general, women for a long time have been conditioned that their body is somewhat of a project, that we need to fix it. So we can do a three day detox to fix your bloating. We do a thirty day challenge to fix, you know, the weight gain. We're constantly in a state or a mental phase of feeling like our bodies need to be quote unquote fixed, which just kind of points us as if our body is an enemy, as if our body is betraying us, as if our body is a project that we just need to DIY it.
Tiffany Ruder:And I think when we can take a step back and recognize our body as this beautiful, unique creation, again, from my belief that we have been beautifully and wonderfully made with these beautiful hormones and granted we're going through a transition where they are changing, realigning with your body, recognizing the the signals, the changes, and then honoring those and recognizing this as a new phase of a little bit of self discovery. This is when you get to realize these are the boundaries I'm going to have. These are the things I'm going to continue to put up with and these are the things I am not going to continue to put up with. I find perimenopause to be such an awakening time of recognizing honestly what your body is able to handle. We are so resilient and we go through so much I think day to day with all the expectations and reconnecting with your body, honoring those signals, honoring what's really happening to our body, the phase that's happening, the transition, and then recognizing this as this can be a new chapter for you.
Tiffany Ruder:You can rewrite who you are, who you're gonna be as a mom, who you're gonna be as an employee, who you're gonna be as a wife, maybe a sister, maybe an aunt. It really allows you to kind of redefine yourself, and this is such a great time to do it because it is a time of self discovery, discovering, you know, new ways that your body is changing and it allows allows for that transition. And so for me, the work that I do, it's helping to recognize that. Maybe even healing some previous trauma, some things that maybe you've held on to in the past. Also the things that you used to do in the past, like, and then my twenties, this worked.
Tiffany Ruder:Well, you're not in your twenties. We're in our forties now. We need to upgrade. We need to change the way that we see your health. And so a lot of what I do is holistic.
Tiffany Ruder:And so it's going to look at, you know, revamping our nutrition, revamping our exercise, our sleep, which is so important, is our sleep. The way we handle stress, the way we take on new things, it's a great way to kind of like reset and then kind of have hold that boundary to to know this is what the next phase is going to look like.
Shannon Yarosz:I really appreciate how you just described that. That I that was really great. And thinking about what you just said, what are maybe some practical evidence based strategies you teach women to regain control of their energy, you know, their mood, their hormonal balance. Is there anything that stands out to you that you would, maybe recommend?
Tiffany Ruder:Sure. So some of the things depending on kind of where they're at and what the symptoms are and really kind of their lifestyle. So I always want to make sure it complements their life because as a busy mom and a pharmacist and an entrepreneur and a wife, like, you can't add on too much. Right? Some of these women, they are at capacity.
Tiffany Ruder:And so we are gonna go very small and very gentle. So it doesn't feel like one more thing or one more chore. I always like to really look at sleep and sleep quality, making sure we have a solid bedtime routine, which sounds like something for a child, but it is just as important for us too. Making sure those screens are getting powered off, our light is getting dim, that we are kind of going through this unwinding phase so we can have better quality sleep. And then addressing, you know, maybe potentially adding in some magnesium if needed for sleep support, addressing any maybe apnea issues, your sleep environment.
Tiffany Ruder:Is it dark? Is it cool? Is it is it conducive to sleep? So we definitely always like to look at sleep and then how are we starting our day. Because like most busy moms and because I think it's a new fad, we are fasting all morning, but we are piling on cups and cups of coffee, which can really fatigue your adrenal system, which can really set you up for some crashes and unstable blood sugar during the day.
Tiffany Ruder:So what we do in the morning, we really want to set the tone throughout the day. So I really like it when my women are eating at least 30 grams of protein to start their day before the coffee. Just to kind of help set them up for some nice steady blood sugars. And then we look at some other things. How are we building our plate?
Tiffany Ruder:Are we adding in healthy fats? Are we adding in fiber? Are we really looking at how much sugar is in that latte at Starbucks? Like, we really kind of keeping tabs on things? And then again, like exercise, walking, we, you know, we kinda strategize it based on their lifestyle, based on what their symptoms are, and also their goals.
Tiffany Ruder:I know that midlife weight gain is very common, So we're looking at that as well. We're looking at, you know, maybe they're having a lot more sleepless nights. We might need to dive into that more. So it kinda it's beautiful because it can really be tailored and personalized, but it also takes a very broad toolbox. We've to use a lot of tools in the toolbox to make sure that we're meeting those goals.
Justin Cole:I love all those practical things. And even as a guy, I can learn so much from that advice too. So Tiffany, one thing that I've been struck with as well as I've been following you is that you seem to have a knack for making complex science really practical, especially when it comes to helping women implement changes that actually fit into real life. When we talked first, I was really struck by this idea of exercise snacks. These short bursts of movement throughout the day.
Justin Cole:So can you help us to understand how do they actually help our bodies related to energy and cortisol and all of these other pieces, not only for for women who are in the perimenopause phase, but probably for all of us.
Tiffany Ruder:Sure. Exercise snacks are, I think, just such a great way to get movement and be more intentional and more aware of honestly how much we're sitting. Right? So, I love using exercise snacks as a great way to really get in that movement without feeling like you are spending hours at the gym. So an exercise snack is usually short, ten to fifteen minutes, and it is used strategically, typically after a meal.
Tiffany Ruder:So I like to incorporate the exercise snacks after, so after breakfast, after, lunch, and then after dinner, or in the morning if you're gonna do maybe like a ten minute walk, you could also do that as an exercise snack while you're getting some sunlight in the morning. But after mealtime, when we do have blood sugar increasing in our body, in our blood, right, we just consumed food and our blood sugar is rising. Exercise snacks, especially if you kind of increase the intensity a little bit, whether that's doing some body weight squats, push ups against the wall, walking lunges, maybe you're doing a quick ten minute like YouTube that's a little bit higher intensity, maybe a little bit more extra walking, marching in place, a weighted vest walk, something that's going to kind of get that heart rate up, get you moving, maybe even increasing a little muscle strength. That helps move that blood sugar from your blood into the muscles where they belong. So instead of having after we eat, usually as our glucose is rising, will also need to increase to balance out glucose.
Tiffany Ruder:They kind of like to balance each other out. Insulin will also bind to the muscle receptor, help open up that muscle so that glucose can go in. But when we haven't been very active or when we're in a state, a sedentary state, as time goes, and honestly as we go through perimenopause, we can become what's called more insulin resistant, which means that those muscle receptors aren't opening as readily as they used to. So your body needs to produce even more insulin, more little keys to open that lock to get the glucose in. And as insulin increases, can also increase our chances in storing that glucose not into our muscle, but in our body as fat, as a fat reserve.
Tiffany Ruder:And so when we can have really balanced blood sugars, not just in perimenopause, but truly all day long, whatever stage you're in, exercise snacks can really help support the use of that blood sugar into our muscles instead of being, used as fat, as well as it has the potential to potent to decrease the insulin resistance. So it makes us a little bit more sensitive to the insulin we are producing. So it kind of helps keep everything in balance, which has a lot of downstream effects. When we have high blood glucose for a very long time, it increases inflammation. It can cause other health issues besides just weight gain.
Tiffany Ruder:So we really want to, use strategy, like use the like use it smartly, right? We're not going to work harder, we're going to work smarter. And so I like using those after mealtime, especially if you've had a larger meal, so maybe after lunch, after dinner. But then if you do three ten minute bouts throughout the day, which I think we can all find ten minutes to go do something, you just did thirty minute workout. So it really kinda will start to add up, and then that's how you kinda start building on that momentum.
Shannon Yarosz:That's great. I'm already making a list for things to start, so thank you for that. And so thinking of this, know, usually, and I'm assuming some of our listeners do this, but there's so many hormone hacks and conflicting messages out there on social media. You know, how do you help women kind of cut through the noise and find credible science backed support. Is there anywhere that you like to go to?
Tiffany Ruder:Definitely I use, well I use a lot of PubMed searches. I also make sure that anything I'm researching is going to include women in the studies, which for spoiler alert, we were not included in studies for a very, very long time. So making sure that when I'm looking at studies that I am looking at ones that had women in them, but also if it at all mentions their age. So for example, there was a recent groundbreaking study called the LIFTMORE, study. It used postmenopausal women that were, had osteoporosis, osteopenia, and it actually didn't even use, hormone replacement therapy.
Tiffany Ruder:This was all about specific exercise to increase bone mass. And it was a beautiful, brilliant study. And so that informs some of the way that we are now talking about longevity with my perimenopausal women. Because at the end of the day, I understand the symptoms are like they are horrible, and we want to get through that transition. But after menopause, women are at the highest risk of cardiovascular disease, of osteoporosis and fracture, of dementia.
Tiffany Ruder:And so not only are we looking at how are we going to quiet the noise right now, like quiet all the symptoms that are going on right now, But what are we doing to set you up for success in the future? Unfortunately, what I find a lot on, social media is a lot of hacks and quick fixes. So it is a miracle drink. You drink this green smoothie every day, and it's gonna help you with hot flashes. Or you, you know, try these these, like, they call it menawashing now.
Tiffany Ruder:So it's, you know, it's vitamin d for menopause, But it's no it's just vitamin d, but they add in menopause and they can increase the price. So being aware of what social media influencers what is their messaging behind what they have? Is it truly to help you? Is it truly are they citing any references or sources, or are they really just trying to get you to buy a product? And that's kind of where I start going a little bit deeper.
Tiffany Ruder:Like, okay. You're gonna advertise this, you know, miracle shake. I'm gonna go ahead and look into that. Like, I want to do the research so I can help others understand it better. Currently, I have a, Facebook group called Optimize Her.
Tiffany Ruder:And every Tuesday, I do talks with a pharmacist Tuesday. And that's a lot of what I do is cut through the noise. Like, here's the Instagram trend. Here's what the science actually says about it. Yay or nay.
Tiffany Ruder:You know, like, is it supported or is it not? And that allows me to make sure I'm doing my research as a pharmacist, that I'm bringing more evidence based information. But then I can help clarify that for women that are obviously confused and looking for answers and just trying to find the right thing that's for them.
Justin Cole:Yeah, I love all of this. Even again, as a guy, I'm learning so much. It's great. So you've mentioned the importance of managing hormone balance, not only for cardiovascular health, but also bone health, metabolic health, it really connects in so many places. But one thing we'd be remiss not to talk about is the mental health space.
Justin Cole:So I believe that women between the ages of 45 and 50 are often one of those groups that are at highest risk of suicide. And that's right when a lot of these changes are often starting. And so I'm curious, what are your thoughts about how can hormone education and the types of services you're providing as a pharmacist help to even protect mental health for women at midlife?
Tiffany Ruder:For sure. I think think it's such a it's such a challenging time because that is when you're probably having the most most hormone fluctuations. As estrogen changes, as it fluctuates towards the end of perimenopause and to menopause, it greatly influences our, neurochemistry. So it's influencing serotonin and dopamine, even things like norepinephrine, like our motivation, our drive. And because so much is kind of happening to you physically, it can add into that, not to mention just the stress of life.
Tiffany Ruder:You may be raising teenagers at that age. You might have aging parents that you're trying to take care of while also juggling a career. A lot of women during that age, they're kind of advancing in their career. They're getting a little bit higher up in their ladder, but they're also needing to have more responsibility and pressures and stress. So it can be it can be really overwhelming.
Tiffany Ruder:I think we need to talk about it more. I think we need to bring a more normalized conversation for women to also know that they are not alone, that they are not broken, that they are not isolated, that truly a biological response is happening to your body. And because of that, it's having these downstream effects. Because of that, we're not as resilient to stress. Because of that, motivation is lacking.
Tiffany Ruder:Because of that, we've gained maybe 10 or 15 pounds of weight and you feel like your body is no longer your own. And I think being able to have, especially at the workplace to have, mental health services, being able to be provided, I think is very important. I think having a normalized conversation about it that a woman would feel comfortable enough to say, this is a challenge. I need help. Unfortunately, in society, I think a lot of women have been taught to be very hyperindependent that somehow the more you can do on your own, the bigger badge you get, that somehow it's a reward.
Tiffany Ruder:And this is definitely a time where you need to stop trying to do this on your own and truly seek help because there are a lot of resources out there to support you. So definitely making sure we're diving into that. Therapy is great. Working through trauma is very important. Getting you the resources and the support you need and making sure that we are providing all over care.
Tiffany Ruder:So we are looking at hormone balance, but also the neurochemistry. It's not uncommon for women to be on antidepressants and anti anxiety medications and sleep medications, and they definitely can have their place. I also want to make sure that we're focusing on the hormone balance as well to continue to support the neurochemistry changes, the things that are happening. And then also truly like a therapy standpoint, understanding that we need to heal the body. The nervous system can only take so much.
Tiffany Ruder:And it's not, there's nothing wrong to ask for help, and to get the help that you need because it's a, you know, it's a time where your body is going to be ready to, receive more if you can actually listen to it and give it, you know, the nourishment that it needs. However that looks, whether that is through therapy, whether it is through hormone therapy, whether it's, you know, at your traditional doctor's office, we want to make sure that we are putting all those pieces together, providing the resources and allowing you to also kind of feel what's best for you and your lifestyle, your beliefs, what kinda also feels more aligned for you to make sure that you're being supported during that phase.
Shannon Yarosz:Thank you for all of that. I'm really grateful that you're addressing this topic, you know, and, it's really nice to hear somebody, you know, in the field that you're talking about, you know, this and give some advice. So thank you for that. And so I kind of want to transition over. At Disrupt here, we love highlighting pharmacists who are innovating.
Shannon Yarosz:You've really built a model that bridges pharmacy and functional medicine and kind of health coaching. So for any pharmacists listening who feel the same desire to innovate, what advice would you give them about getting started in functional or integrative health?
Tiffany Ruder:I would say just like honestly start diving in however you want to get your toes wet. So if you feel a little bit of calling away from maybe a traditional pharmacy model, which is kind of what I'm doing this like weird hybrid between health coaching and still pharmacy and pharmacology and clinical skills, but I'm also trying to make it practical. Just start honestly, just start learning. I think as pharmacists, we kind of are constant learners. We have really been taught to ask questions all the time, right?
Tiffany Ruder:What is their weight? What is their height? What is their kidney clearance? What is, you know, what what CYP enzyme is gonna be used for this? So we're not afraid to ask questions.
Tiffany Ruder:So if you're kinda starting to question your future or what pharmacy looks like for you, what your career looks like for you, I would start just kinda searching. Maybe listen to a podcast, maybe a podcast like this. Maybe you listen to another podcast that is more functional medicine focused just to get an idea of the topics they're talking about, the way that they think, the way that they're piecing things together. And then from there, there are so, you know, there's so many avenues, extra certifications, classes, you know, to to go through if that really is your calling. You definitely wanna make sure that you have that education as well.
Tiffany Ruder:Right? So you wanna make sure that you are preparing, yourself for that. And I think at the end of the day, for me personally, it was a very heavy calling. And I don't often like share this with a lot of people, but I knew for a few years that this was something I wanted to do to help women to advocate for them, to really bridge that gap in female health care. But I was honestly just terrified.
Tiffany Ruder:I had a lot of fear of failure. I had perfectionism issues. I was just so scared to make a move, and I sat on that for a few years of just not moving. Personally, I was reading through the book of Joshua, and they are getting ready to cross the Jordan. And the priests are going to be carrying the Ark of the Covenant, and they're gonna have to go through the Jordan.
Tiffany Ruder:And it's heavy, and it's something that they're gonna have to carry with them. And we all know what happens if you don't carry it appropriately. So they get to the Jordan, and as opposed to Moses with the Red Sea where it departed, they're being commanded to step into the water. Mind you, the water is at flood stage. So in my mind, I'm envisioning, like, rushing water.
Tiffany Ruder:Like, we've seen the videos of floods that occur, and then your houses are taken away and cars are taken away. So I'm I'm envisioning this as I'm reading it. And, he's like, oh, yeah. Go ahead and step in that go ahead and step in that water. Go ahead, while carrying this really heavy thing.
Tiffany Ruder:And while I was reading that, I just really felt like that was God's voice to me. You had this really heavy thing. You have this passion. You have this calling, but I'm gonna need you to step in that water. I'm gonna need you to make a move.
Tiffany Ruder:I'm gonna need you to take a step because once you do, then I can bless it. But if you don't give me any action, I can't bless I can't bless inaction. So for those listening, if you feel a calling, if you feel a nudge, take that action, take that step, give, you know, whatever your belief may be, give your creator something to bless. See where it leads you. Rewrite the story.
Tiffany Ruder:Rewrite the reframe. It's not a failure. It's maybe a learning opportunity. It's not a setback. It's a way for you to change and re innovate and try something new.
Tiffany Ruder:So really just knowing that you gotta take that first step, put your foot in that water, whether that's listening to a podcast, reading a book, maybe watching someone's YouTube channel, whatever that inspiration needs to be, start there and then take that next step and that next one. And slowly, you will realize the path that's kind of been set before you.
Justin Cole:Tiffany, I resonate with that so much. In my house, I have three kids, we always say that courage is doing the next right thing. And sometimes that idea of courage and faith really kind of come together in important moments in our lives. So you've reminded us of the importance of faith. And as as our listeners know, Cedarville is a place where faith and vocation are intersecting.
Justin Cole:And your work really reflects that same sense of faith and purpose driven care. So I I applaud every aspect of that. So I wanna dive into that a bit further. So could you explain to us a bit more, how do you feel like your faith influences the way that you serve your patients, that you lead your business, and even think about women's health as a calling rather than just a career?
Tiffany Ruder:I definitely think from what you just said that the women's health aspect, seeing the gap, seeing the women in the pharmacy that some of these women there, I mean, they're on the verge of divorce. Their kids aren't talking to them. They've been going through something for years, two, three years. Not to say they're so broken, but to see where they're at. It just felt like, okay.
Tiffany Ruder:I gotta do more than the five minute consultation. Like, it just really weighed on me that I felt God was like this. Like, these are these are the sheep I want you to feed. These are the lambs I want you to take care of because there is such a large gap, because of my knowledge and my passion to continue learning. And hopefully, what I like to think is a gift to be able to break down bigger concepts into easily digestible pieces.
Tiffany Ruder:Being able to also be that voice for women to just say no more. Like, we're not gonna go with the status quo. We're gonna actually do something about this. I felt so heavily that God just laid that on my heart to to just to be that. And so from there, it was the trust factor of, like, okay.
Tiffany Ruder:I'm gonna do this really big thing and step not that I'm not still working as a pharmacist, but, like, I'm gonna build something with this. And so always just daily that conviction and then daily truly, it is a daily trust coming to God every day. I'm trusting you with this. Lead me. Let your words let your words speak through me.
Tiffany Ruder:You let you know, let me be a vessel. Use me to shine your light. Because when we care for others, they get to see the Jesus in me because it's no longer me. It's God who's living through me. And I feel if they can see that, if they can feel that passion, then it's just one step closer for them to get to know that relationship, you know, with God the way that I have relationship with God.
Tiffany Ruder:So I always felt that I wanted to make sure that I'm showing love and compassion and kindness and all the fruits of the spirit. Unfortunately, patience is one of them. And sometimes that's very challenging for me. I have my own timetable, but there's also God's timetable. So that's been a really big, another growth opportunity is sitting in uncertainty, not quite knowing the next step, not quite knowing the next path, and then also coming back to his word because it's a lamp into my feet and it's gonna light that path for me.
Tiffany Ruder:So keeping in that trust, keeping in that faith of truly, it's becoming almost like a practice where daily you have to have that conviction of this is what I'm doing. And daily, I'm gonna trust him that he's gonna make the way. It's, you know, it's not my actions. It's his. So I have to just be able to lean into that and try not to resist it too much because sometimes it's some days are harder than others for sure.
Shannon Yarosz:That's wonderful. I really resonate with that. You know, some some days, I think, you know, Lord, you gave me the desire to be a pharmacist, and you've provided me with these skills. And where do you want me to go and what do you want me to do? And that's great.
Shannon Yarosz:That's a great mindset. And I think that that's wonderful. Just really glorifying God with some of the, you know, the skills that He's given us and He's put us in the place where we need to be and really utilizing that to show others Him. So that's wonderful. And so something else I was thinking of, you're clearly helping redefine what it means to be a pharmacist and really empowering transformation.
Shannon Yarosz:So looking ahead, what is your vision for the future of pharmacy and women's health? And what would a truly woman centered kind of model of care look like to you?
Tiffany Ruder:I think from pharmacy standpoint education is key. So because we know so much biochemistry, knowing it, understanding it, but understanding that women are no longer mini men, so we're not just these smaller versions of men. We are complex and dynamic, and our hormones influence a lot. Even our liver enzymes are going to be different than men's. Our hormone rhythms, our cycle, our twenty eight day cycle, the different hormones that show up, those influence the way a woman is gonna have energy.
Tiffany Ruder:It's gonna influence the way she has motivation and drive. So, I think really as a pharmacist, we need to really make sure we're educating ourselves, knowing, like really understanding cycles, understanding the hormones that impact that and understanding those rhythms. I think that's a great way to start because then we can bridge that gap in education. For me and my family, we believe so strongly that education can lead to empowerment because you don't know what you don't know and you can't take action if you're not fully aware. So I would love to see pharmacists as educators, however that looks.
Tiffany Ruder:So not just necessarily a classroom setting, but maybe a pharmacist is going to a school and teaching on the subject, whether that's, you know, a college or high school health class. I would love to see pharmacists standing in corporate boardrooms talking about the need for, you know, a pharmacist being there and educating about the women's health issues because half of your employees are females. And the treatment that we need is a little bit different. So I'd love to see pharmacists in general becoming these educators and these advocates, for women if that is the passion and that's like the direction you're being led. That's where I'm being led.
Tiffany Ruder:I feel like that's the passion I have. As far as the women's health care model, I would love to see it as a holistic model. So we're not parsing out all the bits and pieces of her body, but we're looking at her as a whole. We are looking at all the different functions together as one, And we are building a care plan that's going to incorporate all of that. So it's using the expertise and skills of everyone, of neurologists, of GI specialists, of cardiologists.
Tiffany Ruder:It's using all of that specialty care because they're brilliant. But it's also putting that all together, overlapping those pieces, and making it all together into one puzzle, making the person as a whole. So this way they can be treated essentially kind of from the inside out. And I would love to see that because I think that's where women are gonna be thriving. And also, would love to see a lot more safe spaces where women can feel that they can come and have these discussions without feeling dismissed, without saying, you know what?
Tiffany Ruder:I only have ten minutes for this appointment. We're gonna have to talk about this another time. Without them being brushed off, without them being put in their heads that it's all in their heads. I would love to see more open conversations, open communication, and really validating their experience because what they're going through is really happening to them. It's it's not made up.
Tiffany Ruder:And there is a biological situation that's happening that we do need to recognize and validate them and create an environment so that more women can feel comfortable coming forward, speaking up, and speaking out so their voices can also be heard.
Justin Cole:Well, Tiffany, I think it's a great vision and I think it's a great way to wrap up as well. So thank you so much for joining us here on the DISRxUPT podcast and for the work that you're doing to transform how we think about hormones, health, and pharmacy's role in women's lives. Really quick for listeners who want to learn more, you can connect with Dr. Tiffany Ruder at optimizeher.com. That's optimizeher.com.
Justin Cole:And you can find her on Instagram at @optimizeherpharmacist. Tiffany, is there anywhere else that people can connect with you?
Tiffany Ruder:I'm also on Facebook and LinkedIn as Tiffany Ruder. So t i f f a n y r u d e r. I also have a Facebook community if you want to join that. And then like you said, the the other socials, you can find me there. Thank you so much.
Tiffany Ruder:This was fantastic. I appreciate it.
Justin Cole:Yeah. We appreciate you coming on to the podcast. May the Lord bless all of your efforts as you take this forward.
Tiffany Ruder:Thank you. You too.
Justin Cole:You have been listening to DISRxUPT, a podcast from the Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation. If you enjoyed listening today, please subscribe and share this podcast with others. Thanks for listening.