2025 Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Omisade Burney-Scott
(she/her)
Omisade Burney-Scott is a seventh-generation Black Southern feminist, storyteller, and reproductive justice advocate. She is also the Creator and Chief Menopause Steward of The Black Girls’ Guide to Surviving Menopause (BGG2SM), a multidisciplinary narrative and culture shift project focused on normalizing menopause by centering the stories of Black women, transgender, gender-expansive people, and other marginalized groups of the Global Majority.
Established in 2019, BGG2SM’s core program offerings include a podcast that provides guidance and support for marginalized communities through the various stages of menopause, curated intergenerational storytelling gatherings, and a digital zine titled “Messages from the Menopausal Multiverse.” She has been featured in various prominent media outlets, such as Oprah Daily, Forbes, VOGUE, WebMD, NPR, InStyle Magazine, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. Additionally, she has written articles for Yes! Magazine, Blavity, Oprah Daily, The Honey Pot Company, and Ms. Magazine.
Over the past 30 years, Omisade’s work has been rooted in social justice movements focused on the liberation of marginalized communities, starting with her own. She has been active in movement space since 1995 and has served as an organizational culture and capacity-building consultant for 20 years for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. She currently serves on the advisory boards of Elektra Health and the National Menopause Foundation, and the Honey Pot Company Pulse Panel. Omisade is a member of the 2023 Open Society Foundations Soros Justice Fellowship cohort, working to expand the storytelling initiatives of the Black Girl’s Guide to Surviving Menopause for formerly incarcerated and system-impacted individuals. Omisade graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1989. She resides in North Carolina and is the proud mother of two beautiful sons.
Social: IG – @omisadeburneyscott and @blackgirlsguidetomenopause
Session: Between First Blood and Last Heat: Sexuality, Pleasure & Intimacy in the Menopausal Multiverse
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Shamyra Howard, LCSW, CST
(she/her)
Shamyra Howard holds a Doctorate in Social Work.She’s an international award-winning sexologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and renowned AASECT Certified Sex Therapist®. Founder of OnThe Green Couch, she guides people in overcoming sexual challenges, creating fulfilling relationships, and having better sex. An Amazon best-selling author,Shamyra created the Use Your Mouth Sex and Relationship Conversation Starter Cards and authored Use Your Mouth: Pocket-sized Conversations to Simply Increase 7 Types of Intimacy in and out of the Bedroom.
Social: @SexologistShamyra
Session: Beyond the Hot Flashes: Guiding Clients through Menopause and Sexual Well-Being
Keynote Speaker
Uchenna Ossai,Dr./Professor/Pelvic Health PT/AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor®
(she/her)
Dr. Uchenna “UC” Ossai, PT, DPT, CSC-SIT (she/her) is an assistant professor at University of Utah College of Health’s Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. Dr. Ossai received her clinical doctorate in physical therapy at University of Illinois at Chicago and completed her residency in Women’s Health and Movement Impairment Science at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Ossai is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor® and is a Counseling Supervisor-in-Training.She served in the roleof adjunct faculty for 6 years at the University of Michigan School of Social Work Sexual Health Certification Program (SHCP) and is now serving in the SHCP Advisory Committee. Her clinical and research interests include sexual and pelvic floor dysfunction in marginalized populations, particularly among Black women and the LGBTQIA+ communities. Dr. Ossai is also the creator/founder ofYouSeeLogic, a sexual health platform for adults rooted in an intersectional and social justice framework that focuses on improving sexual joy, pleasure, and autonomy through innovative education and community building.
Social:@youseelogic
Session:Sexuality and the Menopause Transition
Panelist
Dr. Lynn Wang, MD, CSC, CSE
(she/her)
Dr. Lynn Wang (she/her) is aboard certified gynecologist with over 20 years of clinical experience, dedicated to improving the lives of women. She specializes in addressing female sexual health issues related to pain, trauma, menopause, and cancer. Dr. Wang has published research on educating oncology providers about female cancer-related sexualhealth, andremains committed to enhancing healthcare providers’ comfort in addressing sexual health.She has had the privilege of being an instructor for UMSHCP (2014-2021), a co-presenter at the 2019 AASECT AnnualConference, and currently serves on AASECT’s Ethics Advisory Committee.
Session: Collaborative Care for Menopause: Mind, Body, and Beyond
Panelist
Nisha McKenzie, PA-C, CSC, MSCP, IF
(she/her)
Nisha McKenzie (she/her) is a Physician Assistant who has spent her career advancing women’s health and wellness. Since 2011, she has focused on women’s sexual health and the impact of hormones, driven by the gaps in knowledge she saw among medical providers. Nisha is a Menopause Society Certified Provider, AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor®, and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health.
Nisha mentors doctors, PAs, and NPs in sexual medicine, menopause, and women’s health, teaches Residents in medical and PA schools, and speaks nationally to help healthcare providers address sexual and hormonal health. She is also the founder and CEO of the Women’s+ Health Collective in Grand Rapids, MI, where she leads a mission to offer inclusive, patient-centered care. Her work empowers individuals, especially those marginalized in healthcare, to navigate perimenopause, menopause, and sexuality with confidence.
Session: Collaborative Care for Menopause: Mind, Body, and Beyond
Panelist
Alycia Williams, MS, LPC
(she/her)
Alycia Williams, MS, LPC is an AASECT Certified Sex TherapistⓇ specializing in sexuality, relationships, and anxiety. A seasoned professional, her private practice specializes in work with individuals and couples to navigate concerns such as infidelity, desire discrepancies, and alternative relationship structures. Alycia is a sought-after speaker, educator, and media contributor, offering workshops and expert guidance on sexual health and relational well-being. She serves on professional boards and is active in several community organizations. Alycia loves books, art museums, her family and any chance to meet new people.
Session: Collaborative Care for Menopause: Mind, Body, and Beyond
Facilitator
De-Andrea Blaylock-Solar, LCSW-S, CST
(she/her)
De-Andrea Blaylock-Solar holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Saint Louis University and a Master of Social Work from the Brown School at WashU. She is Missouri’s first Black AASECT Certified Sex TherapistⓇ and has over 15 years of experience in behavioral health. As the owner of Sankofa Sex Therapy, LLC, she provides therapy that integrates a Christian perspective and conducts workshops on sexuality, intimacy, and sensuality. Blaylock-Solar is also a clinical social worker and facilitator with Theater of War Productions. Passionate about dismantling harmful ideologies, she emphasizes the importance of open discussions about sex within the Black community and advocates for healthy sexual experiences. Blaylock-Solar’s work highlights the need for inclusivity and understanding of one’s sexuality as a divine gift.
Session: Collaborative Care for Menopause: Mind, Body, and Beyond