UASU hosts first Women’s Health Day
"In order to make changes to policy, you have to do research, you have to build up awareness and community, and that really is what the day is for," Tamsett says.
Kathryn JohnsonOn March 25, the University of Alberta Students’ Union (UASU) held their first Women’s Health Day event to spread awareness about women’s health and work towards reducing stigma surrounding menstrual health.
The event included tabling from student groups, a heating pad making workshop hosted by Club Periodically, and a period cramp simulator.
Advocating for menstrual health on campus has been a key priority for UASU Vice-president (academic) Katie Tamsett.
In 2025, the UASU launched a Women’s Health Coalition open to student groups working to advance women’s health.
“When I set out to do this job, I wanted to be able to look into advancing women’s health on campus, especially menstrual health, and how menstrual health impacts academics as that’s not really an area that is being looked into,” Tamsett said in an interview with The Gateway.
She emphasized that “in order to make changes to policy, you have to do research, you have to build up awareness and community, and that really is what the day is for.”
“We are still drastically behind where we should be on research for women’s health, and that translates to the experience that students have on campus, and so my hope for this day … is to create that awareness,” Tamsett added.
Additionally, the event featured speaker sessions with Shereen Hamza, Simin Popat, Donna Vine, and Dr. Nese Yuksel. The topics ranged from menopause to menstrual irregularities to gender affirming care.
Tamsett also shared her personal experience with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and emphasized that “menstrual health requires further attention, conversation, and care.”
