Kirby Summit Takes Off!

By Marcia Quackenbush, MS, MFT, MCHES | February 25, 2016
Senior Editor, ETR

ETR’s inaugural Kirby Summit has started. While it’s not entirely clear what’s going to come out of this two-day event, I am certain it’s going to be powerful and different.

 

The Summit honors Doug Kirby, one of the greatest researchers the field of sexual and reproductive health has ever seen. Doug was also a senior research scientist here at ETR before his untimely death in 2012, and a colleague and true friend to many of us.

 

Doug had an insatiable curiosity and a love of civil debate. He’d certainly approve of this Summit! 

Going Transdisciplinary

The invitation-only event has brought together neurodevelopmental scientists and leaders in sexual and reproductive health research from across the country. Their charge? Take a look at how well we’re promoting adolescent sexual health, then come up with new ideas about how to do it better.

This morning’s session was exciting, energizing and—dare I say it?—mind-blowing. These are a lot of really smart people taking a hard, creative, transdisciplinary look at our existing models. I can’t wait to see what comes out of it all.

The Kirby Summit has been organized with support from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Grove Foundation and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Marcia Quackenbush, MS, MFT, MCHES, is Senior Editor and manager of ETR’s blog. She can be reached at quam@etr.org.