In this episode of the Menopause Health Podcast, host Susan Sly welcomes Dr. Annina Burns, PhD, RD—a health science policy analyst and expert in women’s health and nutrition. Drawing from her extensive background, Dr. Burns shares research-based insights into perimenopause and menopause, discussing how lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and holistic approaches may influence symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and brain fog.

Susan and Dr. Burns also discuss ongoing research needs in perimenopause, highlighting the NIH’s important role in advancing women’s health research and the importance of improved diagnostics and support for women at every stage of their health journey. Dr. Burns shares current research on menopause, brain health, and cognitive aging, providing listeners with science-informed perspectives and resources to support health through midlife and beyond.

Resources:

• https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause
• https://orwh.od.nih.gov/womens-health-equity-inclusion/menopause-midlife-health
• https://mymenoplan.org/

About Dr. Annina Burns:

Annina Burns, PHD, RD is a health science policy analyst at the Office of Research for Women’s Health (ORWH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her areas of research interest include fertility, maternal health, and the menopausal transition. Currently, Dr. Burns is spearheading a collaborative project aimed at identifying research gaps on women’s nutritional needs throughout their lifespan. Her mission is to improve the healthspan for women through the various stages of life including the menopausal transition.

Annina has held key roles in nutrition including the Associate Director for Policy at Let’s Move!, a child nutrition initiative during the Obama Administration, Public Health Advisor in the Office of the Director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she worked on chronic disease prevention, nutrition, and the intersection of public health and healthcare, Study Director at the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) on the Food and Nutrition Board. Additionally, Dr. Burns contributed to global health initiatives as part of the chronic disease prevention unit at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. Dr. Burns earned both her PhD and MSc as a Marshall Scholar at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. She is a Registered Dietitian and has practiced clinical nutrition for over 12 years.

Connect with Dr. Burns:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annina-burns-phd-rdn-8a011511/

About Susan Sly:

Susan Sly is the host of The Menopause Health Podcast and the Founder and CEO of The Pause Technologies, an AI-enabled platform helping women navigate menopause with precision recommendations and gamification. A seasoned entrepreneur and MIT Sloan graduate, Susan is a second-time AI startup founder. Before The Pause Technologies, she co-led a computer vision company that achieved the largest retail deployment at scale for both interior and exterior analytics. Globally recognized for her work in AI, Susan continues to pioneer the intersection of technology and women’s health, empowering women with the tools to thrive.