10/26/2026
So glad to see PEI doctors taking leadership and initiative to improve women's health!
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More Islanders are asking about menopause, but these doctors say misinformation is a concern. New society aims to improve access to reliable information and care on P.E.I.
A new non-profit group that champions women's health has started on Prince Edward Island. Dr. Kathie McNally and Dr. Michele Murray join CBC News: Compass host Wayne Thibodeau to talk about the P.E.I. Menopause Society, and what it means for Islanders.
Meaningful work is underway on Prince Edward Island to help women through perimenopause and menopause. A newly established non-profit, the P.E.I. Menopause Society, aims to improve access to care and provide reliable, evidence-based information about this stage of life.
"We know that there is a need in P.E.I. to improve access to menopause care," co-founder Dr. Michele Murray told CBC’s Island Morning on Friday. "We want to improve the culture, create a community of people that want to have a conversation about this, and we're really excited to get started."
Fellow founder Dr. Kathie McNally noted she has seen more patients asking about menopause in recent years. "People are coming in with a lot of information they've gotten off the internet, and a lot of it’s incorrect," McNally said. "So you’re spending more and more time in clinic correcting false information."
She also pointed to gaps in medical training on menopause. "We didn’t get trained about it in medical school. I received little to no training … and I don’t think that’s changed," McNally said. "We know that less than 10 per cent of the curriculum is focused on women’s health, and most of that is reproductive health."
The first event is scheduled was Friday evening as part of its Speaker Series. One presentation will cover an IWK Foundation survey on women's health that received responses from more than 27,000 women in the Maritimes. Another will explore the different stages of menopause. People interested in the group’s events can find more information on the society’s website. It also plans to share information through social media.
In a statement to CBC News, Health P.E.I. said it remains committed to improving access to high-quality care. The agency noted that salaried physicians receive up to two weeks of paid time each year for professional development and that doctors are encouraged to "pursue educational opportunities that support their practice," which could include topics such as menopause and perimenopause care.
'It's a socio-economic factor'
The Atlantic Summer Institute is also working to identify gaps in menopause support on the Island. Its co-ordinator, Patsy Beattie-Huggan, said the project's first phase involved focus groups with women. She said many participants described visiting doctors with symptoms such as anxiety, mood changes, hot flashes and sleep problems without being told menopause might be a cause. Beattie-Huggan said the project identified three areas for action: education for physicians and other health-care providers, workplace policies and public education for women.
The Atlantic Summer Institute is moving into the second phase of its project on perimenopause and menopause, with community workshops planned across the Island next week. The institute’s co-ordinator discusses the upcoming events and the changes she hopes to see in government and workplace policies.
"Menopause and perimenopause are not just an experience that women have; it’s a socio-economic factor," she said, noting that symptoms can affect women during their mid-career years and may contribute to them leaving the workforce.
The project's second phase will bring community workshops to Summerside, Montague, Charlottetown and O’Leary. The sessions will help determine whether the first phase captured women's experiences and gather further recommendations.
Beattie-Huggan said the institute plans to bring the community input to a policy forum in February, inviting decision-makers at all levels. It will then prepare a final report calling for action.
Islanders can register for the workshops through the Atlantic Summer Institute's website or by phone.
Photo: Dr. Michele Murray, left, and Dr. Kathie McNally, co-founders of the P.E.I. Menopause Society
