The (M) Factor Screening + Live Panel on Menopause, Richmond, VA , Mar. 4

Shredding the Silence on Menopause: The (M) Factor Screening + Live Panel Discussion on Menopause and Perimenopause in Richmond, VA

Virginia Physicians for Women and Fettle & Fit Physical Therapy are thrilled to host a screening of the groundbreaking documentary The (M) Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause, followed by a live panel discussion with local menopause healthcare providers. The panel will offer evidence-based insights, answer questions, and empower Richmond women to make informed health decisions and find relief during this challenging season of their lives.

Perimenopause and menopause are marked by hormone fluctuation and decline that can result in a myriad of symptoms throughout our bodies and mind. Yet the ramifications of this phase of life reach beyond women’s health: The far-ranging results of women enduring untreated menopause can include lost wages, upended careers, family disruptions, and emotional chaos.

The (M) Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause explores the hidden impact of menopause on our lives: Cameras follow women into their doctors’ offices, at work, and in their homes to expose the challenges they face—including racial biases, gender-ignorant care, inequitable structures and systems, and barriers due to the lack of basic midlife women’s health research. The women featured share their stories of enduring debilitating symptoms while being ignored, ridiculed, shamed—and left untreated.

Now there’s a movement to fix the broken system, change the culture and transform the future for women going through perimenopause and menopause. Our panelists will dive right into this essential conversation, answering questions, sharing evidence-based insights, exploring treatment options, and offering solutions for relief for Richmond women.

Swim! Bike! Run! Everyone at VPFW enjoys hearing about Dr. Draper’s latest athletic endeavors. She even completed her first Ironman in November 2017! Her dedication to training is impressive, and the same determined spirit carries over to her work as a physician. Dr. Draper enjoys getting to know her patients as individuals and helping them achieve their medical goals. She works to ensure they feel at ease during their appointments and that they are working as partners in their medical decision-making.

Outside of the office, Dr. Draper has been polishing her mountaineering skills and recently made the trek to Everest Base Camp in 2022. When she’s not completing triathlons, marathons, or caring for her patients, you can find her taking advantage of RVA’s food, brewery, and outdoor scene, planning her next international adventure, or spoiling her niece.

Dr. Casey Smith is a Board Certified Women’s Health Specialist, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist. She is based in Richmond, Virginia, after moving to the area from New York City in 2016. As the owner of Fettle & Fit, a specialty pelvic health clinic, Dr. Casey specializes in the evaluation and treatment of abdominal and pelvic conditions such as urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, pelvic girdle dysfunction, diastasis recti, constipation, pelvic organ prolapse, and other conditions unique to pregnancy, postpartum, and peri/menopausal states.

Special skills include: myofascial release, visceral mobilization, treadmill running analysis, pregnancy, and ergonomics. Dr. Casey has a background in exercise science, classical pilates and personal training.

Dr. Casey was a contributing author to Julie Tupler’s book on diastasis recti. She serves as an instructor of the urinary incontinence segment for VCU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program and frequently serves as a Clinical Instructor for third year DPT students. She has lectured on a variety of topics related to the trunk and pelvis including urinary incontinence, bowel and bladder conditions with anxiety, general fitness/wellness, men’s pelvic health, postpartum, pregnancy, diastasis recti and postpartum return to running. She served as teaching assistant for Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.

Dr. Casey received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from New York University and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is currently licensed in Virginia. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and section on Pelvic Health.

In 2023, Dr. Stone passed the Menopause Society provider test and is now a Certified Menopause Society Practitioner. She is fully trained on the latest scientific-based information for providing quality menopause care and improving the health of women during their menopause transition and beyond.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Stone refers to herself as a native of the Pacific Northwest who is “east-coast educated.” Dr. Stone has a long-standing interest in women’s health and contraception. She worked in a women’s clinic and in birth control research before deciding to go to medical school. While she describes her journey to become a doctor as a “backwards route,” we think it helps her bring even more to the table as she is so passionate about advocacy and contraception.

When she’s not tending to her patients, Dr. Stone prefers to be outside, learning about photography, and spending time with her family. She has a “self-described” travel problem and is always searching for new destinations to explore.

I believe one of the most powerful tools we have in life is our voice. When we are silenced and not allowed the opportunity to express ourselves it can result in depression and anxiety. Over time it will impair our self-efficacy and value. It is vital to have a safe space to express your thoughts and feelings without judgment. When individuals are in an empathetic atmosphere and feel honored there is room for true healing to take place.

I have a passion for working with women, men, children and youth who have experienced childhood trauma during their formative years and still living with the struggle of depression/anxiety. Couples who really want to find a way to thrive in their relationships, working professionals feeling overwhelmed, young adults transitioning into adult life, LGBTQ youth and adults seeking a place to process the journey of their lives. In doing the therapeutic work of healing, your future can look far different from your past.

I have had the privilege of serving in various programs human services for the past 20 years from Mississippi, Alabama, Maryland, and now the Hampton Roads area. My desire to see wholeness as a reality for others has sparked my career in the mental health field offering services to support mental health, foster care/adoption, substance abuse, domestic violence, and community outreach. Healing is a principle that guides my practice. We cannot pack it away and it does not continue to show up over and over again. I believe truth wins and we can quiet the noise of our past and move forward.

I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in Social Work and graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with the Commonwealth of Virginia, VA Board Approved Supervisor, Interim Program Supervisor, and Integrative therapist with Whole Journey Wellness in Chesapeake, VA.

Dr. Viktoriya Thompson is a Naturopathic Doctor at Richmond Natural Medicine. Her focus at Richmond Natural Medicine has been women’s health, autoimmune disease, and skin conditions. She completed her naturopathic education and a rigorous year-long residency as a Naturopathic Doctor at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR. During her time at National University of Natural Medicine she also earned her Master’s in Nutrition concurrently with her doctorate in naturopathic medicine. Prior to her studies at NUNM, she completed a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, with an emphasis in biochemistry, from Willamette University. Dr.Thompson also has additional training in classical homeopathy through the New England School of Homeopathy with Dr. Paul Herscu and Dr. Amy Rothenberg. She has a passion for supporting women of all ages in meeting their goals, especially in a way that is sustainable in their everyday lives.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Thompson enjoys walking her dog, going on a hike, and trying out new restaurants in the city.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 West Broad Street, Richmond, United States