International Women's Day
Our Global Women’s Health Initiative hosts an International Women’s Day event every year in March. The event features topics related to global women’s health and represents an opportunity for the UMN community and general public to learn more from experts in the field.
2026 IWD Event: Transforming Obstetric Surgical Training
Our virtual event on March 26, 2026, explored how informed consent can be optimized using simple tenets of shared decision making in a way that is culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and context-specific. CGHSR Director of Global Women's Health Rahel Nardos moderated a panel discussion with Drs. Tsega Gebremariam, Hale Teka and Reid Gamble.
Speakers
Rahel Nardos, MD, MCR
Tsega Gebremariam, MD
Hale Teka, MD
Reid Gamble, MD
Past International Women's Day Events
View past webinar recordings of International Women's Day events below.
2025
Bold Innovations to Advance Women's Health
Speakers:
- Rashmi Kandwal, PhD, MBA | HealthcareMN
- Madelyn Weiland | Boston Scientific
- Iyadunni Olubode | MSD for Mothers
2024
Empowering Women, Transforming Lives: A Global Celebration of Safe Motherhood
Program Overview:
- Performance by Titambe Dance Group
- Overview of Global Women’s Health Portfolio from Rahel Nardos, Director of Global Women’s Health, Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility
- Film Screening: Fistula - A film to promote better maternal health care globally
- Fireside Chat about Fistula with Alice Emasu, Founder and Executive Director, Terrewode Women’s Community Hospital
Watch Fistula: A Film to Promote Better Maternal Health Care Globally
2023
Leveraging the Wisdom of Communities for Reproductive Health
Speakers:
- Veronica Cruz Sanchez | Las Libres
- Johanna Hatch | POWERS
- Abigail Aiken | University of Texas at Austin
- Rahel Nardos | Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility
2022
The Power of Personal Stories and Communities to Reduce Disparities in Global Maternal Health
Speakers:
- Mary-Ann Etiebet | Merck for Mothers
- Alice Emasu | TERREWODE
- Sarah Omega | Let's End Fistula Initiative
- Rahel Nardos | Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility
2021
The Global State of Reproductive Health: Examining the Intersection of Health Equity, Politics and COVID-19
Speaker:
- Dr. Senait Fisseha | Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation
Stopping Femicide: COVID-19 Brings Renewed Global Urgency
Speakers:
- Patricia Olamendi Torres | Training Institute for Justice and Human Rights
- Dubravka Simonovic | UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
- Nicole Matthews | Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assualt Coalition
- Cheryl Thomas | Executive Director for Global Rights for Women
Obstetric Fistula: A Window into Disparities in Women's Health and a Call for Reimagining Global Health Engagements
Speaker:
- Rahel Nardos | Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility