Women’s Health Month: Dr. Caroline DeFilippo on Prioritizing Wellness and Preventive Care
May is National Women’s Health Month, a time dedicated to encouraging women and girls to prioritize their health through regular checkups, preventive screenings, mental wellness, and healthy lifestyle choices.
To help raise awareness, Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke with Dr. Caroline DeFilippo, Medical Director of Primary Care at Optum Medical, CareMount in Mount Kisco, NY. In their conversation, Dr. DeFilippo highlighted the unique health challenges women face—including maternal health, menopause, and heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death for women in the U.S.
“There are a number of unique health challenges that face women that National Women’s Health Month really wants us to draw more attention to,” said DeFilippo, adding that many conditions like high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol often go undetected without routine screenings.
She emphasized the importance of holistic care: staying active, eating well, avoiding harmful habits like smoking, and most importantly—prioritizing mental health.
“So often women are juggling many things, probably more than they should be juggling, and they don’t take a second to say, what is it that I need?” DeFilippo noted.
The conversation also explored barriers in the healthcare system, particularly for underserved communities. Dr. DeFilippo advocated for making access to care easier and more streamlined—from getting screenings in a single visit to ensuring women feel safe and supported in medical settings.
Her message to women during Women’s Health Month: “Please treat your body well. Treat it kindly and take care of it—it’s all we get, and we get one shot to do this right.”
Listen to the full interview to hear Dr. DeFilippo’s advice on screenings, heart health, mental wellness, and how healthcare providers can better support women across the regio
