InnovateHER: Minnesota Women’s Health Day

This event celebrated women and the importance of their health and showcased local research centered on women. The event featured student presentations, speakers and participation from multiple academic and community partners.

Thank you to everyone who attended, shared their expertise and helped bring this event to life!

See Event Photos

CentraCare Research

See You Next Year!

Please contact research@centracare.com if you have questions.

Poster Award Winners

Scientific posters offered an opportunity to high school and college students, educators, clinicians and researchers from the region to share their research with the broader community and contribute to advancing women’s health discovery and innovation. Congratulations to the following award recipients!

People’s Choice – Emerging Researcher

  • Mariam Al-Areedy

People’s Choice – Junior Researcher

  • Kara Cowell

People’s Choice – Professional Researcher

  • Joy McKenzie

Best Poster – Emerging Researcher

  • Stella Holstrom

Best Poster – Junior Researcher

  • Kara Cowell

Best Poster – Professional Researcher

  • Diane Pelant and Rikki Kirby

Event Schedule

Please click on the title of the presentation to open it as a pdf.

Time

Activity

Speakers

9-9:30 a.m. Check In and Registration
9:30-9:50 a.m. Opening Remarks

Joy Plamann, DNP, MBA, RN, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, CentraCare; President, CentraCare - St. Cloud Hospital

Katherina Pattit, PhD, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, St. Cloud State University

Jennifer Potter-Vig, PhD, MSc, Director of CentraCare Research

9:55-10:15 a.m.

Keynote: Menopause Management in 2026

Rationale for treating menopause symptoms and current available strategies, including hormone and non-hormone options

Ekta Kapoor, MBBS, FACP, Associate Professor of Medicine; Assistant Director, Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health; Consultant, Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition

10:20-10:40 a.m.

Poster Presentations & Refreshment Break

10:45-11:15 a.m.

Panel: Developing High School Researchers

Moderator: Roxanne Wilson, PhD, RN, Professor Nursing, St Cloud State University, and Nursing Excellence Consultant, CentraCare Research

Local High School Panelists

11:20-11:50 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

A

Menstrual Equity Is Public Health: Research, Access, and Policy Around Periods

Kara Cowell, BS, MPH

B

Substance Use Screening and Support During Pregnancy

Heather Klein, RN, BSN, CLC, CBC, CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital Birth Center
Tricia Rozek, RN, CentraCare – Plaza Clinic Obstetrics & Women’s Health
Tiffany Tangen, RNC, OB, BSN, CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital Birth Center

11:55 a.m. to 12:55 p.m.

Lunch & Poster Promenade

1-1:30 p.m.

Panel: Developing Undergraduate Researchers

Moderator: Sarah Schaefer, EdD, MS, CCC-SLP, Interim Chair of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department (Spring 2026); Assistant Professor and Clinical Educator; SLPA Certificate Director; Educational Internship Coordinator; College of Health and Wellness Professions

Local Undergraduate Student Panelists

1:35-1:55 p.m.

Poster Presentations & Refreshment Break

2-2:30 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

A

Rethinking Pain in Women: Lifestyle Medicine in Action

Sakshi Kaul, MD, CentraCare Pain Medicine

B

Addressing the Maternal Mental Health Crisis: Utilizing Implementation Science for Transformational, Equitable Change

Claire Drom, MD, CentraCare Psychiatry

2:35-3 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Oladele Gazal, PhD, Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship (CADFP) Fellow & Professor of Physiology; Department of Biology and Chemistry, St. Cloud State University

Jennifer Potter-Vig, PhD, MSc, Director of CentraCare Research


Thank You to Our Event Partners

CentraCare Foundation

Great River Regional Library logo

St. Cloud State University logo

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