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This September, I had the privilege of coordinating ASRM’s Preparing Experts in Reproductive Medicine to Engage Decision-Makers (PRIMED) cohort during their week of advocacy on Capitol Hill. It was inspiring to watch this group of physicians, counselors, geneticists, and researchers step into the halls of Congress and make the case for protecting and expanding access to science-based reproductive health care. 

Since being selected in January, the 2025 PRIMED scholars have committed months to learning how the policy process works, how decisions are shaped, and how to communicate effectively with lawmakers. The program’s goal is not only to deepen their understanding of public policy but also to equip them to use their scientific expertise as a tool for advocacy. 

Their visit to Capitol Hill gave our scholars an opportunity to apply the skills they have honed through the PRIMED program. Conversations with congressional offices were grounded in scientific evidence and enriched by personal experiences providing care to patients nationwide. Offices listened attentively as scholars explained why assisted reproductive technology (ART) is both safe and essential and why access must be expanded equitably through public policy. Many offices asked detailed questions and expressed interest in ongoing engagement, signaling a genuine desire to understand the science and its implications for constituents. 

These conversations built on a congressional briefing held the day before, which drew representatives from dozens of both House and Senate offices. This demonstrates that policymakers are eager for accurate, reliable, evidence-based information about fertility care, particularly at a time when reproductive health is often politicized and misrepresented. 

PRIMED’s strength lies in its integration of training, practice, and direct advocacy. Scholars have the opportunity to learn about policymaking and advocacy from trained experts, and apply those skills both during the Hill visits and in their ongoing work after completing the program. One member of the 2025 cohort reflected, “It is time for healthcare professionals to stand up and communicate science in accessible language to our lawmakers. The PRIMED program gave me the tools to do just that.” Watching our PRIMED scholars use the skills they have obtained through our training program to translate complex science into clear, compelling conversations was incredibly rewarding. 

Here are the members of the 2025 PRIMED Cohort: 

• Emily Barnard, DO, Shady Grove Fertility
• Gisel Bello, MD, Emory University
• Kelly M. Chacón, MD, University of California, San Diego.
• Austin Johnson, MD, University of Washington.
• Jamie Kuhlman, PhD, Courageous Path Counseling.
• Caiyun Liao, MD, MPH, UMass Memorial Health.
• Abigail Mancuso, MD, University of Iowa Health Care.
• Mamie McLean, MD, Alabama Fertility Specialists.
• Benjamin Peipert, MD, University of Pennsylvania.
• Lis Regula, PhD, Men Having Babies.
• Jennifer Straub, MEd, CCRM Fertility.
• Chelsea Woody, MMSc, CGC, CooperSurgical.