Dr. Natalia Kanem, MD, MPH, CTM

David and Rosemary Adamson Excellence in Reproductive Medicine Lecture:

The Global Imperative of Collaborative Action for the Future of Reproductive Health

Significant progress has been achieved in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) since the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994. These advancements include expanded access to modern family planning, declining maternal mortality, introducing vaccines against the human papillomavirus, increased coverage of treatments for sexually transmitted infections, improvements in the detection and treatment of HIV infections and increased availability of infertility care. However, many of these advances are now threatened by formidable challenges shaped by demographic shifts, climate change, technological advancements including AI, and rising inequalities. The lecture will emphasize the power of collective efforts in building a resilient and equitable future for reproductive health globally. View full session description. As United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, Dr. Kanem oversees its life-saving policy, development and humanitarian work in over 120 countries, with the aim of assuring that ‘every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.’ View full speaker bio.    

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Kathleen O'Neill, MD

Camran Nezhat, M.D., Lectureship in Innovations in Medicine:

Uterus Transplant: From Research Innovation to Clinical Practice Through Multi-Center and Cross-Disciplinary Partnerships

This plenary lecture will examine the remarkable transition of uterus transplantation from experimental research to clinical practice. We will review the evolution of surgical techniques and monitoring protocols that have contributed to improved outcomes and growing acceptance of this procedure as a treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility. The discussion will highlight how multi-center collaborations and cross-disciplinary partnerships between surgical teams, reproductive endocrinologists, transplant specialists, ethicists, and other healthcare professionals have been crucial in standardizing approaches and accelerating progress in the field. View full session description. Dr. O’Neill is an attending surgeon specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She also serves as an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and is the co-principal investigator of the Uterus Transplant for Uterine Factor Infertility (UNTIL) Trial. View full speaker bio.