Bo Youn Kim is transforming women’s lives at her clinic, EmpowHer Menopause.
What led you to pharmacy?
I worked in hospital pharmacy until the end of last year, which adds up to about 19 years in public tertiary hospitals.
When COVID-19 hit, I went through perimenopause. My personal experience and the struggles I saw women in hospital settings go through led me to start giving education sessions in the hospital. After seeing so many women struggling to get help and being denied assistance, I decided to start my own clinic.
Tell us about your work in perimenopause.
I provide one-on-one consultations with women to assess their perimenopause or menopause symptoms, and educate them on why this is happening and how we can improve their symptoms. I take a holistic approach to what patients need to implement in midlife, advising them on the preventative screenings they should go through – including health checks with their GPs – and the four pillars of health: exercise, sleep, stress management and diet.
I also provide education to health professionals and small clinics, where they host their own professional development sessions. And I give talks in our local library or the pharmacy I work at to raise awareness at a community level where people can come and learn about menopause. Currently, I am working with two other pharmacies to set up an education package for pharmacists.
I’m also setting up a not-for-profit organisation to attract grants for clinicians to travel to regional and rural areas in Australia, where there is no readily available access to care. The aim is to connect to local health professionals and organise telehealth appointments for women who can’t access a regular GP.
What challenges do women face when seeking menopause care?
Women are often told they are too young and their hormone levels are fine, even though they are experiencing symptoms. Part of my work is empowering women to exercise autonomy if their symptoms are dismissed. Arming women with the correct information on hormone replacement therapy and menopausal hormone therapy is essential, while
also tailoring care to women’s specific needs – especially if perimenopausal women are experiencing chronic pain, fatigue, hypermobilities, endometriosis and adenomyosis.
What are some pivotal patient moments over your career?
One patient who was 42 had to quit her job due to pain from severe perimenopause symptoms. I suggested she use a vaginal oestrogen cream.
When we had a phone conversation some time later, she thanked me for saving her life as she was able to go back to work. Another high-functioning patient in her 50s voluntarily admitted herself to a mental health unit because she felt suicidal. I shared a podcast with her that highlights how menopause can affect mental health, which gave her hope that she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Simply planting the idea that her symptoms could be linked to menopause provided a sense of solace, which elevated her mood so dramatically that she was discharged from the mental health unit 8 days later. I called her after a few months, and I could actually hear her smiling over the phone.
What advice do you have for ECPs interested in women’s health?
Don’t specialise too early as life experience enriches your consultation skills. Having a broader foundation not only makes you a stronger clinician, but it helps you choose a path that truly fits. It’s also important to stay curious and learn from others along the way – trying different areas, exploring widely, and paying attention to what sparks your interest. The career you end up in might not even exist yet, so keeping an open mind is key.
