By Giulia Gutzwiller, Staff Writer  

Coalition United for Reproductive Awareness (CURA) – an initiative from President Hanycz encouraging bipartisan dialogue about reproductive health on campus – held their first event of the semester, “Medical Perspectives on Reproductive Health and Policy,” on Monday in the Health United Building (HUB).  

Dr. Sarah Lyons, M.D., and Dr. Steven Halm, D.O., spoke at the event. Their differences in training, education and practices provided varying perspectives on the topic.  

As an OB-GYN physician who has worked at Good Samaritan Hospital for many years, Dr. Lyons discussed many of the misconceptions surrounding reproductive health. Dr. Halm spoke about his professional experiences with reproductive health as the Dean of Xavier’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and as a pediatrician.

Students who attended the event asked questions during the discussion about many aspects of reproductive health, and more specifically abortion, that are not frequently discussed.  

“I gained a better understanding of how the medical field views abortions and what the three different kinds of abortions are,” junior biomedical sciences major Sessina Abrah said. “I also have a better grasp on how religion and our Jesuit values impact our take on reproductive healthcare.”   

“I learned how physicians are people of science, but they also have to be able to understand that they all want to be there for their patients,” junior biomedical sciences major Meg Calumpang said.  

Since starting in 2023, CURA has hosted events each semester to educate students on subjects relating to abortion and reproductive healthcare more generally. CURA is bi-partisan, meaning their leadership council is made up of students who identify as pro-life, pro-choice and anywhere in between. Their goal is to provide a space for students to engage in meaningful, constructive dialogue about such a polarizing subject.

“We invite dialogue in the spirit of Cura Personalis: through caring for and listening to others,” CURA leadership council member and senior marketing major Lizzy Schuler said.  

Additionally, they bring in professional guest speakers, usually with a connection to Xavier. Last semester, CURA hosted an event discussing how reproductive health is portrayed in the media, featuring Xavier faculty Dr. Wendy Maxian and Dr. Andrew Zolides as guest speakers.  

“We always start with the Xavier community when securing guest speakers. We like to see what staff, faculty or other people related to Xavier we know who would be knowledgeable on the topics we discuss at our events,” CURA leadership council member and senior health services administration major Kayla Ross said.  

Students expressed appreciation for the opportunity to have open conversations about different viewpoints on reproductive health at Xavier.  

“Open dialogue about controversial topics is important to hold at a place like Xavier because it encourages students to engage in discussions that challenge their perspectives while reflecting on moral and ethical considerations,” Schuler said.  

“I’ve known about certain policies that affect reproductive health, but I think it’s good to reinforce these ideas for anyone who is on any side of the political spectrum,” Calumpang said. “I think this is a really good space for having these kinds of conversations and getting new perspectives.”  

CURA plans to host another event later this semester.  

“Knowing there’s a community at Xavier that cares about what kinds of policies are being made, whether they are pro-life or pro-choice, makes this more of a safe space than a hostile one, despite having differences,” Calumpang said.