Marla Ahlgrimm

Marla Ahlgrimm, pharmacist, is a pioneer in the area of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and hormone imbalance.  She has made educating women and their doctors about individualized healthcare choices her personal mission. An acknowledged women’s health expert, healthcare provider and entrepreneur, Marla Ahlgrimm was one of the first in America to recognize, define and develop low-dose, natural hormone prescription therapy for managing the symptoms of PMS starting in the late 1970’s.

 

Starting with one woman who suffered severely for 2 weeks of every month, Marla Ahlgrimm identified her symptoms as Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), and discovered a treatment option in Europe that wasn’t available in the United States.  Marla Ahlgrimm worked with her doctor to provide a customized, natural progesterone prescription for her. She was the first to be treated with natural progesterone in America. By word of mouth, more women and their doctors heard of the work she was doing and her pharmacy practice began to grow.

 

In 1982, Marla Ahlgrimm co-founded Madison Pharmacy Associates, Inc., the first pharmacy in the United States to specialize in women’s health, specifically PMS. She had a vision of what personalized healthcare for women should be – an integration of exacting pharmaceutical science, state-of-the-art laboratory technology, and the traditional values of listening and responding to a patient’s individual health needs. Madison Pharmacy Associates was among the first in America to earn the PCAB Seal of Accreditation by meeting rigorous standards for excellence, quality and safety.

 

In 1993, Marla Ahlgrimm founded Women’s Health America to serve the unique and complex hormonal health needs of women of all ages concerned about infertility, PMS, perimenopause, menopause, and healthy aging. By providing access to current and accurate health information, specialized health products, diagnostic testing, and individualized, low dose hormone therapy, Marla Ahlgrimm and her staff have worked with over 350,000 women and their doctors nationwide.

 

Marla Ahlgrimm is co-author of the groundbreaking books, The HRT Solution-Optimizing Your Hormone Potential (Avery 1999) and Self-Help for Premenstrual Syndrome (Random House 1999). Marla Ahlgrimm is frequently interviewed about women’s health on national radio programs and featured in magazines, newspapers, and on television across the country.  She is in constant demand to speak nationally on women’s health topics to both consumer and medical professionals.

 

Marla Ahlgrimm graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy in Madison and is a licensed pharmacist.  In 1992, she established the Marla Ahlgrimm Scholarship Fund for University of Wisconsin pharmacy students interested in specializing in the area of women’s health.

 

Marla Ahlgrimm is an avid adventure traveler and enjoys exploring the world – from Africa to the rainforest of the Amazon to the mountains in Tibet. Marla Ahlgrimm loves golf, fly fishing and volunteering for many organizations.

 

 

Memberships, Recognitions, Publications and Professional Experience

Past Board of Directors Member:

Nakoma Capital Management

United Way – Dane County

Wisconsin Physicians Service- (WPS)

UW Foundation

 

Member of:

American Pharmacy Association

Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin

International Women’s Forum

Langer Society of the Arts

UW Bascom Hill Society

UW School of Pharmacy Alumni Association

UW Women’s Council

UW Cabinet 99

UW Alumni Association

TEMPO

 

Past Board of Directors Experience:

Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin

Friends of Wisconsin Public Television

Downtown Rotary Club of Madison

Oakwood Foundation

Meriter Foundation

Black Hawk Council of Girl Scouts

UW School of Pharmacy Board of Visitors

UW Alumni Association

TEMPO

Wisconsin Women Entrepreneurs

Madison Development Corporation

UW Small Business Development Center

 

Other Civic Activities:

State Task Force on Women and Depression-2005

Dane County Task Force on Excellence – 1995

American Cancer Society – 1992 Auction Chair

Marla Ahlgrimm Scholarship – UW School of Pharmacy

 

Recognition:

Fund for Women / “Woman’s First” Award – 2008

Distinguished University of Wisconsin Alumni Award – 1999

American Council of Germany Delegate – 1998

Madison Magazine 25 Most Influential – 1995

Wisconsin Women’s Expo-Business Woman of the Year Award – 1994

Women of Distinction Award YWCA – 1994

Badger Scholarship Achievement Award – 1990

Dane County Small Business Award – 1990

Wisconsin Women Entrepreneur – Recognition Award- 1990

 

Speaker:

Independent Pharmacist Association CE Conference-New York-2007

International Endometriosis 25th Anniversary Conference-2005

Women’s Sexual Health Physician Symposium-Chicago-2004

PSW Continuing Education-LaCrosse-2002

AntiAging Medicine International Conference- June 1999

UW Extension School of Pharmacy C.E.- 1998

Wisconsin Women’s Health Initiative Conference-Sue Ann Thompson- 1996

National Health Enhancement Systems International Conference- 1996

ISI National Health Show- 1995,1996

International Endometriosis Association Conference- 1995

American Pharmacy Association Conference- 1995

Yahara House Statewide-Statewide Supported Employment Conference- 1993

Yahara House Annual Banquet- 1993

UW Small Business Development Center- 1990

TEMPO of Madison- 1989

Washington Business Group on Health- 1989

 

Publications:

Two major books, published and available through Barnes and Noble and other major bookstores:

The HRT Solution (Avery, 1999), Second Edition (Penguin Putnam 2003)

Self-Help for Premenstrual Syndrome (Random House, 1999)

Restoring Balance Book (Impact Communications, 1998)

PMS: A Delicate Balance Book and Video (PMS ACCESS, 1993)

Comprehensive Therapy June/July 1998; “Differentiating Between Natural Progesterone and Synthetic      Progestins: Clinical Implications”

Patient Care – April 30, 1998; “Nonhormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms”

“A Pharmacokinetic Study of Micronized Progesterone” 1998; Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Contemporary Ob/Gyn – February 1995 “Perimenopause – Midlife Decisions”

The American Journal of Natural Medicine - Columnist; 1998

 

Other:

BusinessWatch-February 2006-Feature article

MD News-January 2005-Feature article

Madison Magazine- 1998 and 1999- Marla Ahlgrimm, Business Spotlight

Drug Topics- 1996- Pioneer in Womens Health Offers Rxs, OTCs, Education

On Wisconsin- 1994- Marla Ahlgrimm: PMS Pioneer

Featured in June 1993 Entrepreneur Magazine- Entrepreneurs Across America

Pharmacy Times- 1993- Woman Pharmacist Focuses on PMS Patients

American Pharmacy- 1992- Focus on Women: Madison Pharmacy Associates

Money Magazine- 1992- “Five Ways Women Are Often Smarter Than Men About Money”

Wisconsin Pharmacist- 1990- Madison Pharmacy Associates: Specializing in Excellence

 

Products:

Specific to Women’s Health America, Inc.

Developed medical protocols used for PMS/HRT management throughout the country.

Developed unique hormone prescription dosage forms for Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Developed specific hormone testing systems for women utilizing saliva and serum.

Marla Ahlgrimm
Marla Ahlgrimm

Marla Ahlgrimm
Marla Ahlgrimm

Marla Ahlgrimm
Marla Ahlgrimm

Marla Ahlgrimm
Marla Ahlgrimm