Contraceptive Leadership Summit Highlights

The South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy held its 2018 Contraceptive Leadership Summit October 24-25 in Myrtle Beach at the Marriot Resort and Spa at Grand Dunes.  The Summit gathers health professionals from across the state of South Carolina to share best practices and new innovations related to contraceptive care. Compelling keynotes and interactive breakout sessions made the summit a success for attendees.

“I’ve attended at least the last four Summits and I keep coming back for a few reasons: the conference content are always useful and interesting, I can network, and I love the Campaign members,” Reese Smith, LPN, RCH Coordinator, Little River Medical Center, said.  

Over 100 participants were able to enjoy a host of vendors and interactive sessions. A few topics that were covered include leadership, contraceptive care, and male involvement in contraceptive care.

Guests heard from impressive keynote speakers Tawara Goode, MA; Kristin Rager, MD, MPH, FAAP, FSAHM; Elizabeth Schroeder, EdD, MSW; and Charles Weathers.

“I enjoyed all the speakers, but for me, the most relevant speaker was Elizabeth Schroeder, Caesar Ross, Director of Student Health Services at Coastal Carolina University, said. “She was relatable, personable, and her messages were on point. I thought she shared useful tips to help a predominantly female audience better understand the viewpoint of men, good and bad, and how we can make the feel more included in the conversation.”

The Campaign also presented the annual Collaborative for Reproductive Education and Wellness (CREW) awards during the conference. For their dedication and support of teen pregnancy prevention in South Carolina one CREW site, Northwoods DHEC, and two individuals, Amy Wooten and Lawana Brown, were awarded.

Dr. Rena Dixon, Health Services Coordinator at the SC Campaign, helped to coordinate the event and felt that the summit was a success for all conference-goers.

“This conference allows everyone to focus on how their practice can improve or transform their service delivery for contraceptive care. It energizes the participants to try new things and hear what great things are happening across the state related to contraceptive access,” Dixon said.