Special Program
Magee-Womens Research Institute
The Conversations We Wish We'd Had Sooner: Women's Health & the Microbiome
- WED, JULY 1, 2026
- 4:00-5:00 PM
- CWC House
Sponsored by Magee-Womens Research Institute and Hamot Health Foundation
Click HERE to complete free registration
DESCRIPTION:
Many women experience changes in urinary and pelvic health as they move through midlife and beyond, but few feel comfortable talking about it.
This program will open with a snapshot of the state of women’s health, followed by an insightful conversation led by Halina Zyczynski, Medical Director of the Erie Campus at Magee-Womens Research Institute. Dr. Zyczynski will introduce the role of the urinary microbiome – our body’s community of “good” bacteria” – and how it connects to common concerns like UTIs and bladder control.
Grounded in science and delivered with warmth and clarity, this talk aims to normalize experiences many women share, offer practical education, and encourage informed self-advocacy. Above all, it is an invitation to learn, ask questions, and keep the conversation going – because women’s health is worth talking about.
Women and men invited!
Speaker bio:
Halina M. Zyczynski MD, is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh and a practicing urogynecologist at the UPMC Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health. As a clinician scientist she had contributed to numerous NIH sponsored clinical trials of traditional and emerging treatments for pelvic floor disorders in women and has published over 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts with the overarching goal of providing patients, and physicians guidance for shared decision making, informing to the risks, benefits and treatment outcomes. She is a passionate advocate for extending access to research to women living in low resource and rural communities. Since its inception in 2020, she has served as the medical director of the Magee-Womens Research Institute, Erie Campus. Dr. Zyczynski has held numerous national positions including president of the American Urogynecologic Society, executive board of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Venue located on Chautauqua Institution grounds; a gate pass is required.