Pictured above: Deepika Lankipalli and Mia McReynolds
On a December morning right before the holiday break, Mia McReynolds and Deepika Lankipalli presented compelling research they conducted on perimenopause and menopause to New York Senator Lea Webb, Chair of the NYS Senate Committee on Women鈥檚 Issues.
The research was performed as part of a small group assignment, 鈥淕roup Policy Practicum,鈥� in Professor Cardillo鈥檚 public policy course. Professor Cardillo matches students up with 鈥渉ost offices鈥� such as state legislative offices, state administrative agencies, or other entities directly involved in the state policy/program development process, such as the State Medical Society. These offices then host the students for a practicum experience researching and rendering a deliverable to directly contribute to an active area of public health policy or program development being pursued in the policy process.
Deepika, a Public Health major with a minor in Psychology, in the BS/MD Program with SUNY Upstate Medical University, shared why she and Mia chose their topic.
鈥淧erimenopause and menopause are important areas to research and legislate because they affect a large portion of the population and have significant impacts on long-term health, including cardiovascular disease, bone health and mental well-being. Despite this, they remain under-researched and inconsistently taught in medical training, leading to gaps in care and misinformation,鈥� she said.
Their research showed how menopause-related symptoms can affect workplace participation and economic stability, especially during peak career years. Their presentation included an infographic which was shared with Senator Webb鈥檚 office prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Senator Webb then invited them to a post-course presentation.
Mia, a Forensic Psychology major, said that she hopes the Senator and her team can use the information and infographic as a quick go-to guide for statistics and current issues facing those experiencing menopause.
鈥淲e hope some of the top areas of need we found, improving work accommodations and insurance coverage for menopause needs, showed the lack of support and can be used by her office to create legislation in these areas,鈥� she said.
Deepika added, 鈥淩esearch and policy are needed to improve healthcare access, protect against discrimination, and promote health equity and healthy aging.鈥�
During the presentation, Senator Webb asked questions that both students ably answered backed by a solid command of the subject matter and of the potential policy options that they recommended.
Senator Webb indicated that her committee along with the Health Committee and the Mental Health Committee would be conducting public hearings on this perimenopause and menopause early in 2026, and that the infographic the students prepared will be contribute.
Deepika and Mia鈥檚 presentation was just one of six projects from the public policy course. The following students also contributed research and infographics:
- Mental Health “Bell-to-Bell鈥� research and education. Created for the NYS Senate Mental Health Committee. Infographic and Presentation by Seana Stallings, Khai Ceaser and Onika Whyte
- Research, educational, and policy recommendations on Community Integration of Older Adults, contributing to the Governor鈥檚 Master Plan on Aging. Conducted for the NYS Office for Aging. Infographic and Presentation by Beau Morrell, Jonah Wheeler for the NYS Office of Aging
- Research, educational and policy recommendations to protect against Physicians being subjected to “Noncompete Contracts.鈥� 聽Prepared for the Medical Society of the State of New York. Infographic and Presentation by Tamara Alyajzeen, Nathan Lynes, Jalin Williams.
- Research, educational and policy recommendations on the Impact of Federal Medicaid Reforms.聽Developed for the Medical Society of the State of New York. Infographic and Presentation by Shania Jagda, Hailey Mahy and Marcella Kloter
- Research, educational and policy recommendations on聽Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Created for the Senate Committee on Women鈥檚 Issues. Infographic and Presentation by Janejene Oflonga, Samantha Guo and Rochelle Bernard
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