By Demetria Johnson
Celebrities, advocates, and medical leaders gathered in Beverly Hills to spotlight endometriosis awareness and the urgent need for research into a disease affecting 1 in 10 women worldwide.
In honor of Endometriosis Awareness Month and Women’s History Month, Gurus Magazine brought together a powerful group of advocates, celebrities, and medical experts for an intimate luncheon in Beverly Hills dedicated to amplifying the voices of millions of women living with endometriosis.
Held March 3 at the elegant The Hideaway, the gathering celebrated the magazine’s new Celebrity Front Covers campaign, designed to raise awareness around a disease that affects roughly 200 million women worldwide, yet remains widely misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and too often dismissed.
The luncheon was hosted by Gurus Magazine founder and CEO Derek Warburton and presented in partnership with Iris Wings Sanctuary.
The campaign’s striking cover series features women using their platforms to bring visibility to the condition through storytelling and advocacy, including actress Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars, To All The Boys), actress and television host Corinne Foxx, actress Courtney Ford (Dexter, Supernatural, Legends of Tomorrow), and filmmaker Shannon Cohn, whose documentary Below the Belt explores the realities of living with the disease.
Model and actress Jessica White (Love & Hip Hop Atlanta) was also among the notable guests who gathered in support of the campaign and the millions affected by the condition, sharing her own personal journey with endometriosis.
At the center of the initiative is renowned endometriosis excision specialist Dr. Iris Kerin Orbuch — a physician who also lives with the disease herself. Through both her clinical work and global advocacy, Dr. Orbuch continues to push for earlier diagnosis, improved treatment, and greater public understanding of a condition that can take an average of 10–12 years to diagnose.
Despite affecting 1 in 10 women globally, endometriosis remains one of the most under-researched areas in medicine. The disease can cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility challenges, fatigue, and severe inflammation that impacts daily life, careers, relationships, and mental health.
During the luncheon, Warburton spoke about the power of storytelling and media in driving awareness.
“The media has the power to shine a light where it’s needed most,” he shared. “When we amplify authentic voices, we create space for change.”
Guests gathered inside the restaurant’s chic setting, where conversation flowed as easily as the thoughtfully curated menu. The afternoon began with a light amuse of guacamole, followed by tuna tartare with avocado and classic Caesar salad. Entrées included pan-roasted chicken breast or Atlantic salmon with lemongrass sauce, paired with roasted wild mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, and papas bravas. Sorbet offered a refreshing finish.
Yet the most meaningful part of the afternoon was the dialogue.
During the luncheon, I had the opportunity to sit beside Ashley Abel, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Metri.bio, a biotechnology company pioneering first-in-class therapeutics for endometrial disease.
According to Abel, more than two billion women globally suffer from uterine diseases affecting the endometrium, yet targeted treatments remain extremely limited. One reason: endometriosis research faces unique scientific challenges, including the lack of accurate laboratory models to study menstrual biology.
The reality is a stark one. Women’s health remains severely underfunded and under-researched.
As someone who has personally undergone a myomectomy to remove fibroids — only to see them return — and who also lives with PCOS, I couldn’t help but reflect on a question so many women quietly carry:
Why has chronic reproductive pain become so normalized?
Too many women are told to “just deal with it.” Too many spend years searching for answers. Too many suffer in silence.
Endometriosis Awareness Month, symbolized by the color yellow, exists to change that. Throughout March, organizations around the world work to increase education, fund research, and reduce the years-long delays that many patients face before receiving proper diagnosis and care.
Before departing, guests received curated gift bags featuring products from pūrlisse, Yensa, JooY Hair Care, and Suzy Levian. It was a thoughtful reminder of an afternoon centered on advocacy, connection, and community.
But the larger takeaway lingered long after the final course.
Women’s health deserves attention.
Women’s pain deserves to be believed.
Women’s stories deserve to be heard.
After all, every single one of us is here because of a woman.
So this month, and every month, take a moment to check in with the women in your life. Listen to their stories. Support their health. Tell them you love them.
Because awareness begins with compassion.
And compassion can change everything.
The post Inside Gurus Magazine’s Beverly Hills Luncheon Raising Awareness for the 200 Million Women Living with Endometriosis appeared first on Press Pass LA.
