Dear Colleagues,
We at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are thrilled to host the 7th Conference of the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer. The conference will be held on the campus of the Ohio State University with support from the OSU James Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Network works to promote sexual well-being in women and girls affected by cancer by advancing evidence-based education and practices. In addition to your attendance, we encourage the submission of abstracts regarding all aspects of research and clinical care within this area. Research by trainees will be highlighted with an invited talk and award. The Call for Abstracts will be posted by April 30, 2019.
This year's conference theme is "Brightening Futures: Improving Sexual Health for Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors." Our goal is to highlight the unique struggles that adolescent and young adult (AYA) women face with regard to their disease, survivorship, and sexuality. Our invited speakers will highlight broad and sexuality-specific survivorship issues for AYA women, areas of concern for LGBTQ patients, and onco-fertility. As is our tradition, we will also be welcoming one of our local survivors to offer her perspectives during Thursday evening's dinner.
In conjunction with the conference, the Scientific Network is offering a pre-conference CME course, "Female Sexual Function After Cancer: Highlighting the Needs of Special Cancer Populations." The course aims to help close a significant gap in care for female cancer survivors by providing clinicians with the knowledge, tools, and training to address the sexual side effects of cancer treatment. The course will focus on gold-standard practices in sexual health after cancer, delivering targeted intervention for these "special populations" of female patients and survivors, and how to develop and disseminate appropriate resources for these patients. The pre-conference CME Course, held on November 13, is geared towards physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and physical therapists who care for women with a history of cancer. However, anyone with an interest in improving the sexual health care of women with cancer is encouraged to attend.
We look forward to welcoming you to Columbus and to the Network!
Kristen M. Carpenter, PhD
Conference Chair