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Menopause can feel like a second puberty – except its sufferers are shouldering far more responsibilities while riding waves of fluctuating hormones.
But there are ways to calm the waters. “Menopause Reimagined: A Multidisciplinary Conference Featuring Experts in Nutrition, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Public Health, and Pharmacy” on Friday, March 27, is a one-day event for women experiencing this midlife transition and the healthcare practitioners who care for them and are thirsting for more science-backed information.
The conference is open to the public, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Russell Sage College’s Troy campus, and features speakers and hands-on workshops. The cost is $20 and includes light breakfast and lunch, and CEU credits are available for practitioners. The keynote speaker and panel discussion will be livestreamed on the Russell Sage YouTube channel.
Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
The event serves as the annual Russell Sage College Nutrition Lecture sponsored by CDPHP, Thrive@Russell Sage, the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute at Russell Sage, the Russell Sage Alumnae/i Association, and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
“For too long, menopause has been treated as something women simply have to endure rather than a major health transition that deserves evidence-based care and open conversations,” says Professor Sonya Hauser, chair of the Nutrition Science Department at Russell Sage College and conference organizer. “We designed this event to bring together experts across disciplines because menopause doesn’t affect just one system of the body — it influences metabolism, mental health, mobility, sleep, gut health, and quality of life. Our goal is to empower women and healthcare providers with practical, science-backed tools so they can approach this stage with knowledge, confidence, and support.”
The conference features keynote speaker Dr. Alexandra Sowa, a nationally recognized authority in GLP-1 receptor agonist medications and author of The Ozempic Revolution, who will discuss the role GLP-1 medications can play in addressing menopause symptoms.
Practical strategies to handle the effects of menopause will be offered by a lunchtime panel of experts, including:
- Dr. Alexandra Sowa, M.D., author and authority on GLP-1 receptor agonist medications who has been featured by CNN, CBS News, and The New York Times.
- Caitlyn Loesch RDN, CDN, MS, Registered Dietitian for Community Care Physicians, specializing in nutrition, disease prevention, weight management, and gastrointestinal health.
- Dr. Nicole Lodise, Pharm D., professor of pharmacy practice at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, whose research interests include hormonal, reproductive, and sexual health-related issues.
- Dr. Elizabeth Whalen, M.D., MPH, DipABLM, medical director for the New York State Department of Health, who also served as Albany County Health Commissioner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Dr. Ross Krawczyk, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist, who specializes in the assessment and treatment of eating, body image, and weight-related disorders, and a professor of life sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Hands-on workshops to help manage perimenopause and menopause symptoms include:
- Culinary Nutrition Hands-on Demonstration with Selina Preyer-Blakney, MS, RDN, assistant professor of nutrition at Russell Sage.
- Effective Weight Training & Injury Prevention with Lauren Tourtellott, PT, DPT, assistant professor of physical therapy at Russell Sage and the 2024 New York State Physical Therapist of the Year.
- Mental Health and Menopause with Dr. Ross Krawczyk, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences professor.
- Pharmaceutical Options and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Discussion with Nicole Lodise, Pharm D., professor of pharmacy practice at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
- Nutrition for Performance with Theresa DeLorenzo, DCN, RD, lecturer of nutrition at Russell Sage.
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction with Erin Elkins, PT, DPT, Ed.D., department chair and associate professor of physical therapy.
- Yoga, Lifestyle, and Nervous System Health with Katrin Ramsey, PT, DSc, CLT, CAPP-OB, associate professor of physical therapy at Russell Sage, and Julie Lewis, MEd.
“At CDPHP, we have long believed that supporting women’s health means looking at the whole person, and that includes their emotional and social well‑being,” said Jen Cassidy, director of Corporate Giving at CDPHP. “Menopause is a significant life transition, and all too often, women navigate it without the support they deserve. We’re proud to partner with Russell Sage College on their annual nutrition event to help empower women with resources that honor their holistic health.”