The Future of Sleep Medicine and the Overlooked Women’s Health Crisis

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Dr. Amy Urban, a dentist turned entrepreneur who is redefining how we think about sleep apnea, airway health, and women’s wellness. Dr. Urban shares how her curiosity—and habit of asking “why”—led her to uncover a major gap in patient care. After noticing that many of her patients were struggling with poor sleep and undiagnosed airway issues, she shifted her focus into dental sleep medicine. What she discovered was eye-opening: a large percentage of patients were living with compromised airways and low quality of life. This insight sparked the creation of the Harmony Appliance, an innovative solution designed to improve CPAP therapy by keeping the mouth closed comfortably during sleep. But Amy didn’t stop there. She is now pioneering research into a largely overlooked issue: the rise of sleep apnea in women during perimenopause and menopause. With her new venture, Estra Air, she’s exploring how hormone changes may impact airway health—and working toward preventative solutions that could help millions of women. Beyond her medical innovations, Amy shares lessons from her journey as a founder—what it takes to build something from scratch, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, and why curiosity is one of the most powerful tools for success.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://flexforwardpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.