Friday Lunch Symposium
The Neglected Vagina: If Nobody Dies, Why do We Care
Friday, July 17, 2026
12:15 PM – 01:15 PM
Faculty
Sharon L. Hillier, PhD
Dr. Sharon Hillier is the Richard Sweet Professor of Reproductive Infectious Disease, and Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs in the School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, with appointments in the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. In addition, she serves as Director of Reproductive Infectious Disease Research at Magee-Women’s Research Institute.
Moderator
Amanda Suchanek, Ph.D.
Medical Advisor, US Medical Affairs, bioMérieux
Description
Common vaginal discharge syndromes—bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis—are still frequently misdiagnosed due to reliance on outdated point-of-care methods. These guideline-recommended tools can lead to both overtreatment and missed infections. Critically, bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis are linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, pelvic inflammatory disease, and increased risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV—yet care remains centered on symptom relief rather than diagnostic accuracy and results-informed treatment. Are we doing enough for women seeking care? Join us to explore how the reproductive infectious disease research community can move the field toward better outcomes—the outcomes women deserve.
Sponsored by:
