On March 28, Michigan State University held its third annual HEAL Sexual Health Conference, in partnership with MSU Women*s and Gender Equity Department, with over 200 attendees, 47 poster presentations and 35 experts in the field of sexual health.
HEAL stands for Healthcare, Education, Advocacy, and Leaders. This year, the HEAL Sexual Health Conference was led by program directors Maria Cinzori, Ph.D. candidate in MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Harsna Chahal, current second-year medical student at Covenant Healthcare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University; Lauren Jernstadt, third-year medical student at MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine; Kayla Allen, incoming D.P.T. student at Wayne State University; and Lesly Morales, coordinator for MSU Women*s and Gender Equity Department, along with 25 committee members.
This year’s theme was "Committed to Learn • Driven to Change," and highlighted the importance of education as one of the principles for advancing equity and inclusivity in sexual health. To be effective leaders in the field of sexual health, we must first recognize our limits in our knowledge and commit to ongoing learning.
As leaders, it is essential that we continuously educate ourselves and others and acknowledge that growth, empathy and meaningful change begin with a willingness to learn and engage in critical conversations. Only then can we become well-rounded and impactful advocates of sexual health. This conference creates a space not only for attendees to reflect on what sexual health means to them, but also how it impacts their communities.
The conference continues to unite individuals across the state of Michigan to drive social change in the field of sexual health. Participants embraced the theme by coming to learn.
Morning panels covered menopause, politics in sexual health care, fertility and how historical views shape today's reproductive and sexual health care. Experts from MSU, local hospitals, clinics and the legislature discussed stigma, societal narratives and power structures that affect who receives care, who has access and whose voices are recognized in medicine.
For attendees seeking activity, Project InPower hosted a workshop on yoga and self-defense, exploring the role of movement in emotional regulation and self-connection. Attendees participated in guided yoga, a partnered self-defense session, and concluded with meditation.
Last year, the conference welcomed over 200 attendees, showcased 30 research posters and featured insights from 32 remarkable experts. In previous years, keynote speakers included Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Dr. Sarah Wallet.
Highlights from HEAL Sexual Health research session:
Every year, the HEAL Sexual Health Conference invites students, faculty and community members to present their sexual health research in three categories: health care, education and advocacy.
Each year, our team has seen an increase in submissions, culminating in a record-setting 47 accepted abstracts for the 2026 conference. This highlights the ongoing growth, evolution and critical importance of the field of sexual health. From medical case reports to educational pilot studies to service-based projects, the poster session is always a premier highlight of the HEAL conference. Of the 47 posters, three were recognized with the 2026 Best in Category Research Awards:
Health care Research Award: “Improving Intrauterine Device Insertion Experiences in Nulliparous Individuals”, presented by Sania Hasan and mentored by Cynthia Gabriel
Education Research Award: “Cultural Barriers to Sexual Health: Hepatitis B in Asian American Communities”, presented by Karen Nguyen and Elsa Varughese and mentored by Dr. Veronika Kinaschuk, MD
Advocacy Research Award: “Menstrual Health Research in Ghana”, presented by Madison Pizzuti and mentored by Dr. Connie Currier and Darline El Reda
More about HEAL Sexual Health Conference
Two years ago, the HEAL Sexual Health Conference was created by Michigan State University alumni Harsna Chahal, current second-year medical student at Covenant Healthcare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University and Nupur Huria, a first-year medical student at Harvard Medical School, with a vision to create an inclusive space where students, community members, health professionals, researchers and many more can come together to not just learn but connect, challenge and advance the conversations that matter in sexual health.
They recognized that changes in sexual health do not happen in isolation but in spaces like the HEAL Sexual Health Conference. The conference's overall goal is to raise awareness of and encourage sexual health scientific research, along with community engagement and discussion. More specifically, it highlights the work of health care, education and advocacy leaders in our Michigan community and beyond through workshops and research poster presentations at the HEAL Sexual Health Conference.
