Phoenix hosts screening and panel on perimenopause, workplace costs, and emerging women’s health technologies

Healthcare, business and public-sector leaders to meet Feb. 24 for documentary event

A screening and panel discussion focused on perimenopause and its impact on health systems and workplaces is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Phoenix. Organizers say the event will bring together healthcare executives, clinicians, investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers for a showing of The (M) Factor 2.0 – Before the Pause, followed by a discussion on care gaps, employer policy and innovation in midlife women’s health.

The program is set to take place at the Phoenix Art Museum, with the evening described as a film screening accompanied by expert panels. The gathering is sponsored by a group that includes HonorHealth, the City of Phoenix, Southwest Medical Imaging, BTAC Capital, Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, and The Pause Technologies.

Why perimenopause has moved into public and employer policy discussions

Perimenopause is the menopausal transition phase before menopause, when hormone levels fluctuate and menstrual cycles become irregular. Medical guidance notes that symptoms can include hot flashes, sleep disruption and other changes that may vary widely by individual, and that timing can begin as early as the 30s for some people.

Beyond clinical care, the Phoenix event is structured around the premise that perimenopause-related symptoms can affect workforce participation and productivity. In widely cited peer-reviewed research, menopause-related symptoms have been linked to substantial annual losses in work productivity in the United States, alongside broader medical spending.

Film focus and discussion topics

The (M) Factor 2.0 – Before the Pause is positioned as a follow-up to the original The (M) Factor documentary, shifting attention from menopause to the earlier, often less-recognized perimenopausal years. Promotional materials for the film describe an emphasis on systemic gaps in research, funding and clinician education, alongside potential approaches to improving recognition and care.

The post-screening discussion in Phoenix is slated to examine intersections among:

• clinical pathways for evaluation and symptom management
• workplace benefits and accommodations
• investment and product development in women’s health
• the use of data and artificial intelligence in symptom tracking and care navigation

Scheduled panelists and local institutional involvement

The panel is expected to be moderated by Greg Barr, editor-at-large of the Phoenix Business Journal. Listed speakers include senior leaders from HonorHealth and Southwest Medical Imaging, academic leadership from Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, and representatives connected to Arizona’s innovation and venture ecosystem.

The panel roster includes executives and clinicians with roles spanning hospital operations, women’s service lines, nursing and advanced practice leadership, and venture development.

Technology claims to be scrutinized alongside clinical oversight

Organizers highlight digital tools intended to help users track symptoms and prepare for clinician visits. The event’s framing places particular attention on how health technologies are developed and validated, including concerns about biased or incomplete datasets and the need for medical oversight in consumer-facing health applications.

The Phoenix program is scheduled one month ahead of a broader release timeline promoted for the film in March 2026, making the local event an early, in-person convening around a topic increasingly treated as both a healthcare priority and a workforce issue.