The Gut-Bone Axis in Midlife Women: Inflammation, Bone Health, and Emerging Clinical Solutions
Midlife is a pivotal time for women’s health, with shifts in hormones, inflammation, and gut function influencing bone health in important ways. This two-hour webinar brings together Felice Gersh, MD and Mark Charbonneau, PhD, moderated by Bridgette Briggs, MD, for an expert discussion on the gut-bone axis and its relevance to women in midlife.
Through scientific insights, clinical perspective, and panel discussion, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how inflammation affects bone health, why the gut-bone connection matters, and how these changes may contribute to declining bone density, including osteopenia and osteoporosis. The session will explore the unique bone health challenges women face during midlife and consider how emerging approaches fit within a broader strategy to support skeletal health and overall well-being.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore the relationship between the gut-bone axis and bone health in midlife women.
- Explain how inflammation contributes to changes in bone metabolism, bone density, and the development or progression of bone loss and osteopenia during the midlife transition.
- Discuss the physiologic and clinical factors that make midlife women uniquely vulnerable to inflammation-related bone health concerns.
- Review lifestyle strategies and the role of Bōndia as a novel option for supporting bone health and addressing osteopenia in midlife women.
Speakers
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Bridget Briggs, MDDr. Bridget Briggs, MD has been empowering patients to live inspired healthy lives for over 20 years. Her integrative approach and profound knowledge of genetics, epigenetics, nutrigenomics and biochemistry has paved the way to her advanced methods in precise, personalized, preventative medicine.
Dr. Briggs is a board certified Family Medicine Physician who is at the forefront of the emerging science of genetics and how a patient’s DNA can be altered to prevent disease or treat current ailments with a personalized treatment plan. She specializes in functional medicine, bio-identical hormones, lipidology, women’s health, pediatrics, geriatrics, detoxification, nutritional and dietary support. Her expertise in genetic testing and interpretation allows her to develop a precise treatment approach leading to improvement in all areas of disease ranging from chronic migraines, fatigue, anxiety, depression, autism, GERD, IBS, SIBO issues among others.
Dr. Briggs has two California office locations. Her family practice in Murrieta and the recently opened Institute for Epigenetic Medicine in Temecula – “There are millions of women, men, and children dealing with chronic disease. Our clinics treat the root cause of disease and more importantly help prevent future chronic disease.
Dr. Briggs relentless pursuit for precise, personalized medicine was ignited when her 4 year old son Nolan was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2005. Dr. Briggs pursued her certification in Integrative Holistic Medicine where she learned how to incorporate lifestyle medicine into her own and her patient’s lives. Today, her son Nolan is nineteen years old and continues to motivate Dr. Briggs to empower patients to live an inspired healthy life. As the medical director for EpigeneticsRx, Dr. Briggs is breaking new ground and leading the way for other physicians to follow in her footsteps.
The Briggs Institute for Epigenetic Medicine
The Institute’s mission is to empower patients to live an inspired healthy life.
Dr. Briggs Education / Certifications
Undergraduate degree in Psychobiology – University of California at Los Angeles
Medical Degree – University of California at San Diego
Internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology – University Medical Center in Las Vegas
Residency in Family Medicine – Riverside County Regional Medical Center
Certified by the National Lipid Association
Diplomate Institute of Functional Medicine
Diplomate Institute of Integrative Medicine
Diplomate American Board of Holistic Medicine
Diplomate American Board of Family Practice -
Felice Gersh, MDFelice Gersh, M.D. is a multi-award winning physician with dual board certifications in OB-GYN and Integrative Medicine. She is the founder and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, a practice that provides comprehensive health care for women by combining the best evidence-based therapies from conventional, naturopathic, and holistic medicine. She received her education at Princeton University, USC School of Medicine, Kaiser Hospital, and University of Arizona School of Medicine. She received the highly coveted Outstanding Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award, while teaching obstetrics and gynecology at Keck USC School of Medicine, where she served for 12 years as an Assistant Clinical Professor. She now serves as an Affiliate Faculty Member at the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, through the University of Arizona School of Medicine, where she mentors and regularly grades the case presentations written by the Fellowship students for their final exams.
Felice Gersh, M.D. is the bestselling author of PCOS SOS, PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track, and Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know. She has also had numerous scientific articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals. Dr. Gersh is a prolific lecturer and has been featured in several films and documentary series, including The Real Skinny on Fat with Montel Williams, Fasting with Valter Longo, Ph.D., and The Business of Birth Control.
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Mark Charbonneau, PhDMark obtained his Ph.D. in Computational and Systems Biology in the laboratory of Jeffrey I. Gordon at Washington University in St Louis, studying the interactions between infant gut microbial communities and growth in animal models of undernutrition. Mark has over a decade of experience in microbiome research, bioinformatics and live biotherapeutic development and a passion for advancing biotechnology solutions that leverage the microbiome to improve human health and nutrition. This work led him to join Sōlaria Biō, a consumer health brand focused on scientific innovation that benefits patient health.
