Announcing The World Fertility Awards: Celebrating Global Change Agents Advancing Fertility Awareness, Innovation, and Inclusion
- This event recognizes the people supporting the future of fertility in three areas: Access & Awareness, Innovation & Technology, and Equity & Inclusion -
NEW YORK, N.Y., June 17, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Pregnantish, the first global media platform dedicated to helping people navigate their fertility, announces the inaugural World Fertility Awards at The Times Center in New York City in December. Award nominations are now open at worldfertilityawards.com and will be accepted until August 1, 2025.
The World Fertility Awards (WFAs), produced by pregnantish, will convene patients, advocates, medical professionals, public personalities, social influencers, media outlets, industry representatives, and digital health leaders working together to transform the future of family building around the world by celebrating progress and fostering momentum to advance fertility awareness, access, and care. Supported by host committees across seven global regions, the WFAs will reach millions of people worldwide who are struggling to conceive and/or can't access necessary treatment to build their families.
'At least 1 in 6 are experiencing infertility globally, according to the World Health Organization – and that's just what's reported,' says Andrea Syrtash, Relationships Author and Founder of pregnantish and the WFAs. 'With a global decline in fertility happening and dystopian fertility headlines trending in the news, the World Fertility Awards were conceived to raise awareness about infertility, recognize the heroes who develop life-changing healthcare, and amplify the stories of fertility and modern family-building.'
Pregnantish is uniquely positioned to host this event, having reached over one billion globally since inception with high quality content, sold-out live events, scientifically published research on the patient journey, and education that's helped support patients and providers as they work together to build families with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology.
This event recognizes the people supporting the future of fertility in three areas: Access & Awareness, Innovation & Technology, and Equity & Inclusion.
The WFAs has the support of global ambassadors which includes thought leaders from medicine, advocacy, journalism, technology, finance, and entertainment sectors. Members include respected fertility specialists like Dr. Rodrigo De Rosa (Brazil), Dr. Prati Sharma (Canada), Dr. Lusanda Shimange-Matsose, (South Africa) and US advocates like Sarah Kennedy Ellis, VP at Google, David Sable, Life Sciences Portfolio Manager, Eboni K. Williams, TV Host & Author, and Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first U.S. IVF baby.
Dr. Lucky Sekhon, co-chair of the US Host Committee and Infertility Specialist at RMA of New York — a practice within the US Fertility network, who is a sponsor of the event — shares: 'The World Fertility Awards are a recognition of the human stories and groundbreaking science that shape the field of reproductive medicine. Amplifying these voices is deeply meaningful because it reflects our shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and equitable access to care.'
Dr. Prateek Makwana, Director at Vasundhara Hospital and Co-Chair of the South Asia Host Committee notes, 'Infertility is on the rise in India. While people now seek medical opinion relatively quickly when trying to conceive, there is still a huge gap in how society sees and portrays infertility. The WFAs help with recognising people and amplifying real voices, breaking cultural taboos, and inspiring open conversations.'
Gretchen Adcock, Head of Sales at Lending Club Patient Solutions, felt that it was important to support an event showing the need for people to access fertility treatments: 'Navigating treatment costs can be overwhelming, we know, and I'm glad to work for a company that offers budget-friendly plans and a straightforward application process. People shouldn't delay treatment because of cost; but sadly that's a reality for some in the US today.'
Ola Taiwo, host of Africa's first fertility podcast and Co-Chair of the Africa Host Committee, says, 'In Nigeria, infertility is often misunderstood—especially for women. It's time to break the silence, challenge the shame, and recognize infertility for what it truly is: a medical condition, not a moral failure. We need more awareness, access, empathy, and support—and a complete shift in how we talk about it.'
Learn more (Video/YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfT2zmBawMg&list=PL9coUAW3nMynyhDQyyy4y72HIwmed2GAQ
Visit https://www.worldfertilityawards.com/ to submit award nominations and to take the pledge.
To get involved as a sponsor, contact [email protected]. Initial sponsors include US Fertility, LendingClub, LabCorp, IVI RMA, EMD Serono Canada, among others.
About Pregnantish Inc.
Pregnantish launched in 2017 as the first media platform dedicated to elevating the conversation about fertility with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology. The company is home to Pregnantish Insights, a division dedicated to researching fertility experiences with the goal of bridging the gap between patients and their providers. Today, a diverse cross-section of people come to pregnantish to find the content, community and events they need to travel their own fertility journey. Founder Andrea Syrtash is an internationally recognized relationship and sexual health expert, author, and fertility advocate who uniquely understands the relationship between patients and the products and services they seek. Learn more: https://pregnantish.com/.
Follow @pregnantish for more: https://www.instagram.com/pregnantish.
Press inquiries: [email protected]
Image link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/25-0617-s2p-wfawards-300dpi.jpg
Image caption: Announcing The World Fertility Awards.
NEWS SOURCE: Pregnantish Inc.
Keywords: Fertility and IVF, World Fertility Awards, Pregnantish Inc, patients, advocates, medical professionals, NEW YORK, N.Y.
This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Pregnantish Inc.) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P127038 APNF0325A
To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/announcing-the-world-fertility-awards-celebrating-global-change-agents-advancing-fertility-awareness-innovation-and-inclusion/
© 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA.
RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT.
Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
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Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Associated Press
Announcing The World Fertility Awards: Celebrating Global Change Agents Advancing Fertility Awareness, Innovation, and Inclusion
- This event recognizes the people supporting the future of fertility in three areas: Access & Awareness, Innovation & Technology, and Equity & Inclusion - NEW YORK, N.Y., June 17, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Pregnantish, the first global media platform dedicated to helping people navigate their fertility, announces the inaugural World Fertility Awards at The Times Center in New York City in December. Award nominations are now open at and will be accepted until August 1, 2025. The World Fertility Awards (WFAs), produced by pregnantish, will convene patients, advocates, medical professionals, public personalities, social influencers, media outlets, industry representatives, and digital health leaders working together to transform the future of family building around the world by celebrating progress and fostering momentum to advance fertility awareness, access, and care. Supported by host committees across seven global regions, the WFAs will reach millions of people worldwide who are struggling to conceive and/or can't access necessary treatment to build their families. 'At least 1 in 6 are experiencing infertility globally, according to the World Health Organization – and that's just what's reported,' says Andrea Syrtash, Relationships Author and Founder of pregnantish and the WFAs. 'With a global decline in fertility happening and dystopian fertility headlines trending in the news, the World Fertility Awards were conceived to raise awareness about infertility, recognize the heroes who develop life-changing healthcare, and amplify the stories of fertility and modern family-building.' Pregnantish is uniquely positioned to host this event, having reached over one billion globally since inception with high quality content, sold-out live events, scientifically published research on the patient journey, and education that's helped support patients and providers as they work together to build families with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology. This event recognizes the people supporting the future of fertility in three areas: Access & Awareness, Innovation & Technology, and Equity & Inclusion. The WFAs has the support of global ambassadors which includes thought leaders from medicine, advocacy, journalism, technology, finance, and entertainment sectors. Members include respected fertility specialists like Dr. Rodrigo De Rosa (Brazil), Dr. Prati Sharma (Canada), Dr. Lusanda Shimange-Matsose, (South Africa) and US advocates like Sarah Kennedy Ellis, VP at Google, David Sable, Life Sciences Portfolio Manager, Eboni K. Williams, TV Host & Author, and Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first U.S. IVF baby. Dr. Lucky Sekhon, co-chair of the US Host Committee and Infertility Specialist at RMA of New York — a practice within the US Fertility network, who is a sponsor of the event — shares: 'The World Fertility Awards are a recognition of the human stories and groundbreaking science that shape the field of reproductive medicine. Amplifying these voices is deeply meaningful because it reflects our shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and equitable access to care.' Dr. Prateek Makwana, Director at Vasundhara Hospital and Co-Chair of the South Asia Host Committee notes, 'Infertility is on the rise in India. While people now seek medical opinion relatively quickly when trying to conceive, there is still a huge gap in how society sees and portrays infertility. The WFAs help with recognising people and amplifying real voices, breaking cultural taboos, and inspiring open conversations.' Gretchen Adcock, Head of Sales at Lending Club Patient Solutions, felt that it was important to support an event showing the need for people to access fertility treatments: 'Navigating treatment costs can be overwhelming, we know, and I'm glad to work for a company that offers budget-friendly plans and a straightforward application process. People shouldn't delay treatment because of cost; but sadly that's a reality for some in the US today.' Ola Taiwo, host of Africa's first fertility podcast and Co-Chair of the Africa Host Committee, says, 'In Nigeria, infertility is often misunderstood—especially for women. It's time to break the silence, challenge the shame, and recognize infertility for what it truly is: a medical condition, not a moral failure. We need more awareness, access, empathy, and support—and a complete shift in how we talk about it.' Learn more (Video/YouTube): Visit to submit award nominations and to take the pledge. To get involved as a sponsor, contact [email protected]. Initial sponsors include US Fertility, LendingClub, LabCorp, IVI RMA, EMD Serono Canada, among others. About Pregnantish Inc. Pregnantish launched in 2017 as the first media platform dedicated to elevating the conversation about fertility with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology. The company is home to Pregnantish Insights, a division dedicated to researching fertility experiences with the goal of bridging the gap between patients and their providers. Today, a diverse cross-section of people come to pregnantish to find the content, community and events they need to travel their own fertility journey. Founder Andrea Syrtash is an internationally recognized relationship and sexual health expert, author, and fertility advocate who uniquely understands the relationship between patients and the products and services they seek. Learn more: Follow @pregnantish for more: Press inquiries: [email protected] Image link for media: Image caption: Announcing The World Fertility Awards. NEWS SOURCE: Pregnantish Inc. Keywords: Fertility and IVF, World Fertility Awards, Pregnantish Inc, patients, advocates, medical professionals, NEW YORK, N.Y. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Pregnantish Inc.) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P127038 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Associated Press
09-06-2025
- Associated Press
CCHR Demands Urgent Reform to Stop Child Abuse in Youth Behavioral Facilities
LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 9, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Amid a surge of reported abuse and deaths in psychiatric and behavioral residential programs for youth, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR) is urging immediate and sweeping federal intervention. CCHR warns that continued inaction by state and federal agencies endangers lives and enables a mental health system where vulnerable children and adolescents are subjected to trauma, neglect, and avoidable harm. In December 2024, Congress passed the bipartisan Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, calling for a study by the National Academies of Sciences into the state of youth in institutional programs. However, the legislation granted a three-year window to complete the investigation—a delay CCHR deems unconscionable now, given ongoing reports of harm. 'Children are dying. Others are being restrained, secluded, forcibly drugged, or sexually abused,' said Jan Eastgate, President of CCHR International. 'How many more cases of tragedy must occur before regulators respond with urgency? A three-year timeline is a death sentence for some of these children.' A 2024 peer-reviewed study in Psychiatric Services confirmed that the use of seclusion and mechanical restraints remains widespread in U.S. psychiatric hospitals, despite the documented trauma and risk of death. The study called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission to implement reforms to end the practice. A previous New York Times investigation estimated at least 86 deaths in youth behavioral programs from 2000 to 2015, noting that children in these institutions are often subjected to conditions that would be unlawful for prisoners—including isolation, and physical and chemical restraint.[1] In just the past few weeks, a string of new incidents has surfaced from across the U.S. involving youth facilities, including: Two girls, aged 12 and 13, died by suicide in May in a North Carolina behavioral treatment facility, forcing its closure.[2] Reports of hundreds of prolonged restraint incidents in a single California psychiatric facility within months.[3] A teenage boy was repeatedly sexually abused by staff at a New Mexico behavioral facility.[4] Seclusion and restraint of children as young as five; Vermont state authorities confirmed over 500 cases.[5] New legislation was passed in Maryland restricting the use of physical restraints during youth transport to psych facilities.[6] Although multiple federal investigations have led to substantial fines and civil settlements, CCHR asserts these penalties have failed to deter misconduct, patient harm, and deaths. 'Financial penalties are clearly not enough. Many of these settlements are treated as the cost of doing business,' Eastgate noted. CCHR also emphasizes that current tools used by government agencies—such as consent agreements or Corporate Integrity Agreements (CIAs)—do not work. These measures allow institutions with a history of serious violations to remain operational after promising internal improvements. 'Voluntary promises are violated again and again, and children suffer the consequences,' Eastgate said. 'These agreements create a dangerous illusion of accountability.' The organization is calling on Congress and the Administration to take such actions as: Accelerate the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act investigation. Withhold CMS and Medicaid funding from facilities with substantiated abuse records. Freeze new licenses or bed expansions for companies under investigation. Establish criminal penalties for executives and staff found complicit in systemic abuse. Prohibit the use of further Corporate Integrity or improvement agreements for known violators. In June 2024, a U.S. Senate Finance Committee report into several for-profit youth behavioral hospital chains described the harms children experienced resulted, in part, from financial models that prioritize revenue over safety. The Committee urged 'bold intervention' to prevent further tragedies. Prominent legal professionals agree. KBA attorney Kayla Ferrel Onder stated: 'More effective oversight systems need to be in place to protect patients. This includes stricter penalties for facilities found guilty of abuse or fraud. Jail time for executives and significantly larger financial penalties may be necessary to curb misconduct prevalent in the behavioral healthcare industry.'[7] Attorney Tommy James cites horrendous physical abuse and emotional trauma in behavioral residential facilities, stating, 'those responsible must be held accountable.'[8] Another attorney, Kayla Ferrel Onder said the abuse is so extensive that it reflected a 'systemic failure,' which needs to stop.[9] CCHR maintains an extensive record of documented youth abuse in psychiatric facilities, including seclusion, restraint, sexual assault, and forced drugging. 'Children should not be warehoused, abused, or silenced,' said Eastgate. 'What is happening now is a humanitarian crisis hiding in plain sight.' Quoting lawmakers who have supported the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, Rep. Ro Khanna stated: 'The industry has gone unchecked for too long.'[10] Senator Tommy Tuberville added: 'We need more sunlight… to stop the waste, fraud, and abuse in the system.' 'This is not a policy debate—it is a moral imperative,' Eastgate concluded. 'We are calling on legislators, prosecutors, and health agencies to act now. No more broken promises. No more promises of avoidable deaths. No more children forgotten in the system.' About CCHR : The government-acclaimed watchdog and award-winning advocacy group was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Thomas Szasz. To learn more, visit: Sources: [1] Alexander Stockton, 'Can you punish a child's mental health problems away?' The New York Times , 11 Oct. 2022, [2] Jeffery Collins, 'Residential treatment school closes in North Carolina after deaths of 2 girls,' AP News , 3 June 2025, [3] 'California watchdog finds for-profit psychiatric hospital abused patients,' San Francisco Chronicle , 19 May 2025 [4] 'Suit alleges teen repeatedly abused by worker at former youth residential treatment center,' Santa Fe New Mexican, 29 May 2025, [5] 'Youth in Vermont custody have been physically restrained hundreds of times in recent years,' VT Digger , 22 May 2025, [6] [7] [8] Erica Thomas, 'Tuskegee youth facility dubbed 'House of Horrors' in latest lawsuit,' 1819 News , 27 Aug. 2024, [9] 'Letter: The alarming pattern of abuse at Acadia Healthcare facilities,' Springfield Daily Citizen , 29 May 2025, [10] citing MULTIMEDIA: Image link for media: Image caption: 'Children should not be warehoused, abused, or silenced. What is happening now is a humanitarian crisis hiding in plain sight.' – Jan Eastgate, President, CCHR International. NEWS SOURCE: Citizens Commission on Human Rights Keywords: Family and Parenting, Reform, Stop Child Abuse, Youth Behavioral Facilities, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, CCHR International, Jan Eastgate, LOS ANGELES, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Citizens Commission on Human Rights) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P126791 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Berry Fertility Launches Revamped App Amid 39% Jump in Egg Freezing Year-on-Year
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