Talks at Twelve: Education as a Tool to Promote Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health

Save the date to join the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research for the first Talks at Twelve for 2026-27 featuring Dr. Susan Wiener, board-certified pediatrician and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine at University of Rochester Medicine. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.

This focus will be on the promise of education (both of adolescents themselves as well as the healthcare providers who care for them) to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Dr. Wiener will describe comprehensive sex education and its benefits for adolescent health and well-being, which have been well-demonstrated through research. She will also review the policy landscape concerning sexual health education in the United States and how an understanding of the relevant policies can be leveraged to develop strategies to expand the implementation of comprehensive sex education.

The talk will also touch on the education of the healthcare providers caring for adolescent patients and how innovations in medical education can be a tool to promote adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Reproductive health has historically been under-emphasized in medical education and training, and as a result, there are gaps in the knowledge of healthcare providers regarding adolescent sexual and reproductive health that can be addressed through educational efforts.

About our speaker: Dr. Susan Wiener is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the University of Rochester. She is a board-certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist. Her clinical expertise includes sexual/reproductive healthcare and caring for adolescents with eating disorders. Dr. Wiener is passionate about reducing adolescents’ barriers to receiving the care that they need, empowering young people to make decisions about their own health, and promoting health equity. Her research interests include sexual health education and person-centered counseling skills (particularly surrounding pregnancy options and contraceptive counseling). She is honored to partner with ACT for Youth in developing educational materials on adolescent sexual health.