Conference Sessions

Day 1 – September 16, 2026

Christine Dehlendorf, M.D., MAS

This session will review the evidence for person-centered contraceptive counseling and describe strategies to support quality patient decision making and advance reproductive autonomy.

Christine Dehlendorf, M.D., MAS

This presentation will review how to apply contraceptive guidelines, and recommendations in a personalized manner that takes into account the individual nature of contraceptive decision making the limitations of available data.

Noel Ramirez, DBH, MPH, MSW, LCSW, CSAT, CMAT, Mango Tree Counseling And Consulting

Sexual health conversations often occur in highly vulnerable moments for patients. The clinical exam room can illuminate deeply personal concerns related to sexuality, identity, relationships, and health behaviors, yet shame, stigma, and lack of language frequently prevent meaningful dialogue.

This keynote explores how healthcare providers can reduce shame and increase patient engagement through alignment-based communication grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Drawing from psychotherapy, behavioral health consultation, and HIV prevention work, Dr. Noel Ramirez examines how language, tone, and provider presence influence patient disclosure and trust.

Participants will learn how shame contributes to secrecy, silence, and disengagement from care, and how values-based communication can support patient autonomy and behavioral health outcomes. Practical strategies will be presented to help providers foster psychologically safe clinical encounters, encourage honest dialogue about sexual health, and support patients in making values-aligned health decisions.

This session is designed for healthcare professionals seeking practical tools to enhance sexual health conversations while addressing stigma, cultural context, and the emotional realities patients bring into the exam room.

MDHHS Family Planning Staff

This session will discuss Title X grantees’ dual obligations to confidentiality under the Title X rule and mandatory reporting obligations under the Michigan Child Protection Law.

LaToya Austin, M.D.

In this session, Dr. Austin will address myths and beliefs about contraception. Whether they are viral, or old wive’s tales, Dr. Austin will give you the truth about contraception and examples of how practitioners can respond to a patient who presents these beliefs.

Megan Higdon, MPH; Sophie Rosen, M.S.
National Coalition for Sexual Health/Altarum Institute

Social media can be one of the best ways to connect your audience with health information and reach the people you serve. The hard part, however, is knowing how to focus your effort, time, and resources to use it most effectively. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to strengthen your current approach, this session will help you make more informed decisions about where and how to invest your social media efforts. The National Coalition for Sexual Health, pulling from their own work, will share field-tested strategies for reaching priority populations: which platforms work for which audiences, how to create compelling content that drives engagement, and common pitfalls to avoid.

The Coalition will also present their free, ready-to-use social media resources that you can plug-and-play, including their Quarterly Social Media Campaigns.

Neil Simmerman, M.D., LaToya Austin, M.D., Alane Laws-Barker, M.D.

This session will answer your questions about difficult cases, expanding on the experience of three medical directors from Title X clinics.

MDHHS Family Planning Staff

This session will discuss Title X grantees’ dual obligations to confidentiality under the Title X rule and mandatory reporting obligations under the Michigan Child Protection Law.

Noel Ramirez, DBH, MPH, MSW, LCSW, CSAT, CMAT, Mango Tree Counseling And Consulting

Biomedical prevention tools such as PrEP and PEP have transformed HIV prevention and remain critical components of sexual health care. However, many sexual health conversations in clinical settings still focus primarily on risk reduction while overlooking the broader psychological and social forces that shape sexual behavior.

This presentation invites providers to expand their approach to sexual health conversations with queer patients by incorporating frameworks related to minority stress, pleasure, relational wellbeing, and compulsive sexual behavior. Drawing on clinical work in psychotherapy, addiction treatment, and public health, Dr. Noel Ramirez explores how shame, stigma, and social marginalization can influence sexual decision-making, emotional regulation, and patterns of intimacy.

Participants will examine how clinicians can create more open and affirming conversations about sexuality that include pleasure, boundaries, and relational needs. The session will also introduce practical frameworks for distinguishing between healthy sexual exploration and patterns of compulsive behavior. Using skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), providers will learn strategies for supporting patients in identifying values, navigating sexual health decisions, and aligning behaviors with wellbeing and relational goals.

This session aims to equip healthcare providers with language and consultation tools that support more nuanced, affirming, and effective sexual health conversations with queer patients.

Day 2 – September 17, 2026

Shira Heisler, M.D.

Overview of national and statewide epidemiologic trends in primary and secondary syphilis, as well as congenital syphilis. The session will provide an overview of current syphilis diagnostic algorithms and interpretation of testing. Current treatment recommendations will be discussed in the context of the ongoing national Bicillin shortage. The lecture will also review the emerging role of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) in syphilis prevention, along with current evidence and implementation considerations.

Megan Higdon, MPH; Sophie Rosen, M.S.
National Coalition for Sexual Health/Altarum Institute

Social media can be one of the best ways to connect your audience with health information and reach the people you serve. The hard part, however, is knowing how to focus your effort, time, and resources to use it most effectively. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to strengthen your current approach, this session will help you make more informed decisions about where and how to invest your social media efforts. The National Coalition for Sexual Health, pulling from their own work, will share field-tested strategies for reaching priority populations: which platforms work for which audiences, how to create compelling content that drives engagement, and common pitfalls to avoid.

The Coalition will also present their free, ready-to-use social media resources that you can plug-and-play, including their Quarterly Social Media Campaigns.

Shira Heisler, M.D.

Overview of current HIV prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options such as oral PrEP, long-acting injectable cabotegravir (Apretude), and lenacapavir (Yeztugo), as well as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and the principles of U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable).

The session will review clinical data, efficacy, side effects, administration protocols, recommended monitoring laboratories, and practical considerations for implementation in clinical practice.

LaToya Austin, M.D.

Dr. Austin will provide real, relatable examples about how practitioners can improve their counseling around contraception. Attendees will have to opportunity to ask questions and practice conversations, walking away with tools in their bag for the next counseling session.

Neil Simmerman, M.D.

This session will provide an update for Family Planning clinicians on contraceptives. Attendees will learn more about the management of contraceptive side effects, complications, and current recommendations for counseling clients about Depo-Provera use.