, a health technology company focused on preventive care and personalized health insights, has appointed Jen Ashton, M.D., M.S., to its Medical & Scientific Board, strengthening its expertise in women’s health, hormone testing and AI-powered health analysis.
Ashton, a double board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology and obesity medicine, brings clinical experience and a background in medical communications to the company’s advisory team.
She previously served as Chief Medical Correspondent for ABC News and is the founder of Ajenda, a women’s health platform. Ashton also holds a master’s degree in nutrition.
In her new advisory role, Ashton will help guide Function’s approach to women’s health, including the development of tools that combine laboratory testing, advanced imaging and artificial intelligence to provide personalized health information.
The appointment supports Function’s strategy of making comprehensive health testing and longitudinal health data more accessible to consumers.
Function offers an annual membership that includes access to more than 160 laboratory tests covering cardiovascular health, hormone levels, thyroid function, metabolic health, autoimmune markers, inflammation, nutrient levels and heavy metal exposure.
The membership costs $365 annually and includes testing at multiple points during the year.
Members can also access advanced MRI and CT imaging services for an additional fee. The platform brings together laboratory results and other health information to establish individual baselines, monitor changes over time and provide clinician-reviewed summaries.
Function also offers personalized Action Plans intended to help members understand their results and identify potential next steps based on their health information and stage of life.
For women, the company is emphasizing a more integrated approach to health assessment that considers the relationships between hormones, cardiovascular function, metabolism and immune health.
“At Function, we set a new standard for women from day one. And we will continue raising it,” said Mark Hyman, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Function.
“We’re bringing together lab testing, imaging, and AI to change how every woman manages her health.”
Hyman said Ashton will play an important role in advancing the company’s women’s health initiatives as Function expands its use of clinical data and AI-driven analysis.
Ashton emphasized the importance of evaluating women’s health through interconnected biological systems rather than treating individual symptoms or conditions in isolation.
“A woman’s hormones, heart, metabolism, and immune system do not operate in isolation. The way we understand women’s health should reflect that,” Ashton said.
“It’s time to connect the dots: Women deserve to know what their results mean, how they relate to what they’re experiencing, and what they can do to feel their best.”
A key component of Ashton’s advisory responsibilities will involve Function’s Medical Intelligence Lab, an initiative focused on developing AI-powered tools to analyze health information and identify patterns across longitudinal patient data.
The company is placing particular emphasis on ensuring that its AI development accounts for differences in women’s biology and changes in health metrics across different life stages.
Function said gaps in women’s health data could influence the accuracy and usefulness of AI-generated health insights, making clinical expertise and representative data important considerations in developing its technology.
Ashton will advise the company on these efforts while helping shape women’s health capabilities across its broader platform.
Function’s Medical & Scientific Board brings together clinicians and scientific experts who provide guidance on the company’s health testing, data analysis and preventive care initiatives.
The company is developing technology intended to help consumers better understand their health through repeated testing, personalized information and ongoing monitoring.
Its platform integrates laboratory results into a digital interface that allows members to review health markers and track changes over time.
Function also offers access to imaging services designed to identify potential health concerns, including certain cancers, vascular abnormalities and other medical conditions.
The company says its broader objective is to give individuals greater access to information that can support discussions with healthcare professionals and more informed health decisions.
Ashton’s appointment adds expertise in reproductive health, obesity medicine, nutrition and medical education as Function continues developing its women’s health offerings.
The company expects her guidance to contribute to its efforts to improve how women’s health information is collected, interpreted and presented through its testing and AI platforms.
The addition also reflects Function’s focus on expanding the role of personalized health data in preventive care, particularly for women seeking a more comprehensive understanding of their health over time.