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PRIMED Scholars Present at ASRM 2025

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San Antonio, TX-

Last week, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's 2025 PRIMED Scholars Cohort delivered their capstone presentations during the annual ASRM Congress and Expo in San Antonio, Texas. This showcase marked a significant milestone in the scholars’ journey through the PRIMED program and demonstrated their commitment to advancing reproductive health policy and advocacy.

“The capstone presentation serves as a culmination of the PRIMED Scholar experience, but is by no means an endpoint,” said Amelia Letson, PRIMED Coordinator and Associate with the ASRM Center for Policy and Leadership (CPL). “It’s an opportunity to share and build upon the advocacy and policy training that our scholars have honed through months of collaboration, discussion, and engagement with decision-makers in the field of reproductive health policy."

2025 PRIMED Scholars Emily Barnard, DO & Abigail Mancuso, MD

The 2025 cohort tackled urgent and complex issues with clarity and conviction. Scholars addressed misinformation in reproductive science, examined the ethical and policy implications of “restorative reproductive medicine,” explored the impact of state-level mandates on fertility preservation and access to IVF, and more.

“The CPL is thrilled to congratulate this year’s PRIMED cohort on their exceptional work throughout the program,” said Becca O’Connor, CPL Director. “Their work demonstrates how informed, intentional, and evidence-based advocacy can drive meaningful change in reproductive medicine.”

The PRIMED Scholars Program continues to serve as a cornerstone of ASRM’s leadership development efforts. Through mentorship, policy training, and hands-on engagement with legislative processes, scholars gain the tools to lead with empathy, precision, and purpose in a rapidly evolving reproductive health landscape.

2025 PRIMED Scholars Emily Barnard, DO & Abigail Mancuso, MD

2025 PRIMED Scholars Capstone Projects:

Emily Barnard, DO, and Abigail Mancuso, MD: "Explaining Unexplained Infertility"

Gisel Bello, MD: "Project Stories To Organize Reform Kit (S.T.O.R.K.)"

Kelly M. Chacón, MD: “A Tale of Two Mandates: Downstream Implementation of State-Mandated Coverage of Medically-Indicated Fertility Preservation"

Austin Johnson, MD: “A Tale of Two Mandates – The Washington State Building Families Act”

Jamie Kuhlman, PhD, and Benjamin Peipert, MD: "The Illusion of Reproductive Choice: How Restorative Reproductive Medicine Violates Reproductive Autonomy and Informed Consent"

Caiyun Liao, MD, MPH: “Demystifying the 'Science' & 'Evidence' Behind Restorative Reproductive Medicine”

Mamie McLean, MD: "Codifying Access to IVF: Advocacy Lessons from Alabama"

Lis Regula, PhD: “Family Solidarity: Intersectionality and Coalition Building to Combat Project 2025 Goals in Reproductive Healthcare Policy”

Jennifer Straub, MEd: “Advocacy Leadership: A Strategic Imperative for Fertility Clinics. Building a Business Case for Formal Advocacy Leadership in Fertility Clinics & Networks”

Chelsea Woody, MMSc, CGC: “Advocacy in Action: Elevating the Genetic Counselor’s Role”