David Rowan, Rowan Foundation Founder
As this year ends, I reflect on the many moments that have shaped our work and the people who brought them meaning. Each year offers its own lessons, but 2025 served as a deeper reminder of why the Rowan Foundation exists. It highlighted how essential clear information is for women who rely on it, and how strong a connection can be when women share their stories with honesty and courage.
This mission started because of our daughter, Alexandra. Her absence still fills our home in ways that never fade. Holidays, birthdays, and quiet moments always bring her back to us. They bring back her laughter, her talent, and the future she deserved. When I read the messages women share with us these days, I often think about how different our lives might be if she had known the information we share now. That thought drives every decision we make.
The Stories That Stay With Me
Over the years since the Rowan Foundation was established, I have heard from women who survived a clot, women who mourned a loss, and families who experienced events that changed them forever. Some describe feeling sudden pain during a trip or experiencing strange shortness of breath on an ordinary day. Others talk about a long search for answers or the isolation that occurs when no one truly understands what they feel.
Many of these women trusted their instincts when something felt wrong. Their courage saved their lives. Some explain that they were afraid to speak up. Others say they dismissed their own symptoms because they didn’t want to cause worry. Their stories drew me in because they reminded me of how quickly a moment can change everything.
These conversations stay with me. They shape how I understand this work. They also reinforce my belief that awareness is an act of care. When a woman shares her experience, she gives someone else a chance to recognize early symptoms and act sooner. She offers someone else an opportunity to avoid what she endured.
Creating Clearer Paths to Understanding
In 2025, we developed more resources to help women understand contraceptive options, early warning signs, and blood clot risks. Many women emphasize the need for clearer explanations written in language they can understand during stressful or confusing times. They seek information that acknowledges the complexity of their lives and the importance of their decisions.
Our Informed Choices Roundtable helped us gain clarity. Clinicians and student health leaders collaborated with us to identify questions that are often overlooked during contraceptive counseling. Their insights are helping us develop more precise tools that support women during medical visits and promote more open conversations about symptoms, personal health history, and prevention.
The Comfort of a Trusted Guide
Welcoming Dr. Vian Nguyen as our Medical Advisor this year enhances every aspect of our work. Her leadership brings not only clinical expertise but also compassion. Women who read our materials or watch our videos now see a trusted clinical voice shaping what we share. That trust matters, providing comfort during moments that can feel frightening or confusing.
Carrying Alexandra with Us into the Work
There are times when the weight of this mission feels overwhelming. I recall Alexandra’s experience and see, with painful clarity, why this work is so urgent. But there are also times when I witness the impact we make, and I feel an uplift that sparks hope. I see a message from a young woman who identified a symptom early. I know a mother who thanks us for the information she never received before. I see a clinician sharing our resources with a patient. These moments elevate us. They remind me that Alexandra’s story now safeguards others. Her life still guides young women toward choices that could save their lives. That thought provides comfort. It also gives strength.
I feel immense gratitude for everyone who supported us this year. Women who trusted us with their stories. Clinicians who shared their insights. Donors who believed in the importance of education and prevention. Families who reached out for guidance and, in turn, helped others understand their own risks for blood clots.
This community carries the mission with us. Together, we will continue to build a safer path for women who may face the same unknowns that changed our lives forever.
A Year That Points to Hope
The progress we made in 2025 prepares us for ongoing growth. We will introduce new projects that broaden our reach and increase awareness. We will continue to listen to women. We will keep honoring their strength. We will keep building education that safeguards their health and promotes informed choices.
I move into the coming year filled with gratitude and hope. I carry Alexandra with me, along with the stories women shared. I hold onto the knowledge that every act of awareness can change a life.
Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for believing in this mission. Thank you for helping us turn heartbreak into understanding and understanding into prevention.
Learn more about the work of the Rowan Foundation.
