Tackling the Topic of STIs with Humor and Impeccable Research

Ina Park MD, MS is the author of Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs. She has more than two decades of experience speaking on the topic of STD/STIs and sexual health to groups ranging in size from ten to 800. While she is well-versed in delivering a traditional academic lecture, she loves discussing scientific concepts using storytelling and humor in away that makes the content accessible to anyone. She is available to speak at schools and universities(high school and beyond), organizations, hospitals, and conferences, both virtually and in-person. Ina has spoken at professional conferences throughout the US and Canada, and to organizations including the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (see the full list below) She has also delivered lectures at UC Berkeley, University of Minnesota, and Stanford University. Here are a few examples of Ina’s lectures:

Strange Bedfellows: The hidden role of STIs in our lives and society

This talk explores Ina’s book,Strange Bedfellows, opening with an exploration of the stigma surrounding STIs and why it persists today. Ina will then discuss various concepts from the book:why sleeping with ten partners may be less risky than sleeping with one,how a little blue pill is revolutionizing how we have sex with each other (hint: it’s not Viagra), when overzealous hair removal can spread STDs like wildfire, or what happens when unwanted guests invade your vagina. She’ll discuss the role that STIs have played in everything from the Allies’ victory in World War II to The Bachelor to racial disparities in the US. It is a talk for science lovers, the sexually curious, and anyone who wonders how these microscopic creatures manage to exert such widespread influence on our lives and society.

How Will We Ever Have Sex Again?

Navigating sexual relationships in a post-COVID-19 world. As society emerges from sheltering-in-place, we must ask ourselves how to balance safety with pleasureas we navigate sex with strangers in the post-COVID-19 world.Using a sex-positive, harm reduction approach,Ina discusses how COVID-19 and STIs can spread in sexual networks, and how to select partners in a way that will minimize risk of both types of infections. She discusses the possibility of COVID-19 as an STI and discusses safer sex tips that might minimize risk. For those who end up exposed to either an STI or COVID-19, she covers what to expect when a contact tracer knocks on your door.

The State of STIs in the United States: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?

After witnessing sharp declines in STIs in 1999-2000, STIs returned with a vengeance in the US. By 2019,the CDC reported that the number of STIs in the US had reached historic highs.Ina discusses the current state of STIs in the US, including the resurgence of syphilis among women and infants and its intersection with the methamphetamine and opioid epidemics. She talks about various forces leading to an increase in infections: advances in the field of HIV prevention, the rise of geo social networking apps such as Tinder and Grindr, and explores the question: what do we need to do to address STIs and create a sexually healthy nation?

For clinicians/academics:

Highlights of the 2020 CDC STI Treatment Guidelines

As one of the co-authors of the latest CDC STI Treatment Guidelines, Ina can provide an update on the latest changes in the guidelines including prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of both bacterial and viral STIs. Covering epidemiology, new diagnostic tests, trends in antibiotic resistance, and new therapeutic recommendations, this lecture can be easily customized and tailored depending on clinical specialty and interest

Ina Park Proudly Gets Around: