Now Showing on APHA TV: From Menarche to Menopause

From first periods to menopause, menstrual health affects people across every stage of life—and the GATE Program in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health is working to garner more attention, better resources, and stronger action. A new video spotlights GATE's global work to advance puberty education, menstrual health screening, menstrual-friendly infrastructure, and support for menopause in the workplace.

The video is part of their Thought Leadership Film Series, and was broadcast at the recent American Public Health Association (APHA) 2026 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX, at selected hotels in the area, and online through the association’s official video news platform, APHA TV.  The meeting  convened some 11,000 public health professionals and partners from around the world. 

The video tracks the evolution of GATE’s global work, led by Marni Sommer, professor of sociomedical sciences. Building off a foundation of research, GATE’s youth-centered puberty books, available in numerous countries worldwide,  help young people and families access clear, supportive information about this life transition. The video also explores why menstrual health should be made part of routine clinical care and why public toilets, schools, and workplaces must be designed with the needs of people who menstruate in mind.