Menstruation in a Global Context: Addressing Policy and Practice

Marni Sommer, DrPH, MSN, RN

Associate Professor, Mailman School of Public Health and Director of the GATE Program

Columbia University

Dr. Marni Sommer is a globally recognized expert on menstruation, gender and sexual and reproductive health, and adolescent health research and practice. Dr. Sommer directs the Gender, Adolescent Transitions and Environment (GATE) Program at Columbia University, which explores the intersections of gender, health, education and the environment for girls and boys transitioning into adulthood in low-income countries and in the United States (USA). GATE also generates research and practical resources focused on improving the integration of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and gender supportive sanitation solutions into global humanitarian response. Her work includes leading the development of the MHM in Emergencies Toolkit and Menstrual Disposal, Waste Management and Laundering: A Compendium, in partnership with the International Rescue Committee and the humanitarian response community, as well as collaborating with UNICEF and global partners to establish a 10-year agenda, MHM in Ten, focused on establishing priorities for menstrual equity in schools.

Dr. Sommer is an Associate Professor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health where she teaches menstruation and global health topics, and is a Senior Editor of the journal Global Public Health. Currently, her research focuses on a broad range of menstruation issues, including the experiences of those who are homeless, young people transitioning through puberty in the USA, displaced girls and women in humanitarian emergencies, and girls and their families growing up in low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Sommer is also the founder of Grow and Know, a small non-profit focused on developing puberty books with content on menstruation, with over two million copies of books published in nine countries worldwide.

Maggie L. Schmitt, MPH

Former Associate Director, GATE Program

Columbia University

Maggie Schmitt was the Associate Director for the GATE Program at the time of the Menstruation in a Global Context course launch. Ms. Schmitt was at Columbia University since 2009, working on a range of menstrual health and hygiene (MHH), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), adolescent health and health systems strengthening research programs in low-income and humanitarian settings. Since 2015, she’s worked on menstruation issues in humanitarian emergencies, including on a range of research and capacity development initiatives, in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee. This includes publishing two practitioner-focused resources for integrating menstruation into humanitarian programming: The MHM in Emergencies Toolkit and The Compendium on Menstrual Disposal, Waste Management and Laundering in Emergencies.

Ms. Schmitt supported a series of USA-based research projects, including on the puberty and menstruation experiences of low-income American adolescent girls, the emergence of menstrual equity policies, and the impact of COVID-19 on menstrual product insecurity. In addition, research conducted with American adolescent girls has been utilized to support the creation of a new puberty education book, entitled A Girls’ Guide to Puberty and Periods. Ms. Schmitt received her MPH from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Population and Family Health, with a concentration in Forced Migration and Health.

Caitlin Gruer, MPH

Former Program Manager, GATE Program

Columbia University

Caitlin Gruer was a Program Manager for the GATE Program at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Her work focused on the use of participatory research methods to understand the lived experiences of women and girls related to menstruation, puberty, and sanitation. This included translating research into practical resources for girls and women, implementing organizations, and policy makers, including publishing the Guidance Note on Integrating MHM into Ebola Response. Previously, she worked at Plan International USA and Helen Keller International Cambodia leading initiatives related to menstrual health and hygiene (MHH), and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Ms. Gruer supported a portfolio of global and USA-based research projects exploring a range of menstruation issues, including the experiences of those who are homeless, menstrual considerations during an Ebola epidemic, and innovative methodologies for disseminating puberty content to adolescent girls. In addition, she coordinated the Period Posse Presents webinar series which brings together experts in menstrual health and hygiene from across research, policy and practice to discuss key emerging issues. Ms. Gruer received her MPH from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, with a concentration in Global Health.