On Saturday, March 7, 2026, the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center became the epicenter of fibroid research, advocacy, and community as the Fibroid Foundation hosted Fibroid Summit 2026. What unfolded was a powerful afternoon of discovery, connection, and the kind of honest conversations about uterine fibroids that are changing lives.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors
Before we dive into the incredible day we shared, we must extend our deepest gratitude to Always and Hologic for sponsoring Fibroid Summit 2026. Their commitment to women’s health made this event possible, and their support ensures that cutting-edge fibroid research reaches the people who need it most. Thank you for believing in this mission and investing in a future where every woman with uterine fibroids receives the care and answers she deserves.
Welcome Home: Opening Remarks from Sateria Venable
Our founder and CEO, Sateria Venable, opened Summit with the warmth and authenticity that defines the Fibroid Foundation. She took this opportunity to remind everyone in the room why this work matters. As a woman who has undergone four fibroid surgeries herself, Sateria knows intimately the pain of being dismissed, the frustration of limited fibroid treatment options, and the power of community and knowledge. Her opening remarks set the tone for an afternoon dedicated to breaking the silence, amplifying research, and demanding better for the 26 million women in the United States living with fibroids.
A Special Video Welcome from Dr. Rachel Rubin
Following Sateria’s opening, attendees received a special video welcome from Dr. Rachel Rubin, who shared insights about her practice and her unwavering commitment to women’s health, including her work on getting the black box warning removed from hormone therapy this year. Dr. Rubin’s message reinforced a critical truth: physicians who listen, advocate, and stay informed make all the difference in women’s health. Her words reminded everyone in the room that advocacy can lead to real change.
Keynote Address: Dr. Gloria Bowles-Johnson on Fibroid Research
Dr. Gloria Bowles-Johnson delivered a keynote address that framed the afternoon’s work with clarity and urgency. Her remarks underscored the importance of fibroid research, the gaps that still exist in fibroid treatment and awareness, and the work that lies ahead. Dr. Bowles-Johnson acknowledged the lived experiences of women with uterine fibroids while challenging the medical community and researchers to do better. It was a call to action wrapped in empathy, and it resonated deeply with everyone in the room.
The Research: Where Fibroid Science Meets Real Life
The heart of Fibroid Summit 2026 was the fibroid research presentations. Three leading scientists sharing work that is actively reshaping how we understand and treat uterine fibroids.
Dr. Erika Moore: Cellular Replication in Fibroids
Dr. Erika Moore, Assistant Professor in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, presented cutting-edge research on cellular replication in fibroids. Understanding how and why fibroid cells multiply is foundational to developing new fibroid treatment approaches that go beyond managing symptoms to actually preventing growth. Dr. Moore’s work is opening doors to interventions that could one day stop fibroids before they start, or at least before they cause the kind of life-altering fibroid symptoms so many women experience.
Dr. Julia DiTosto: Fibroids and Heart Disease Connection
Dr. Julia DiTosto, a recent PhD graduate in epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, presented her groundbreaking research on the connection between fibroids and heart disease. This is the study that made national headlines, and for good reason. Dr. DiTosto’s findings uncovered that women with fibroids have an 81% higher long-term risk of heart disease, with women under 40 facing even more striking risk. This research is changing the conversation about uterine fibroids from a “gynecological issue” to a whole-body health concern that demands cardiovascular screening and comprehensive care. Hearing it directly from Dr. DiTosto, complete with the nuance, the methodology, the implications, and her personal opinion about further research that is needed on this topic, was a privilege few audiences get.
Dr. Bhuchitra Singh: Hair Products and Fibroids Research
Dr. Bhuchitra Singh, Director of Clinical Research at the Howard W. and Georgeanna Seegars Jones Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, tackled the question women have been asking for years: Do hair products cause fibroids? His systematic review of 17 studies provided the most comprehensive analysis to date on the association between hair product use, particularly hair relaxers and dyes, and gynecological conditions including uterine fibroids. While the evidence is complex and still evolving, Dr. Singh’s presentation gave attendees the scientific context they need to understand what the research shows, what it doesn’t show, and where more work is needed. It was honest, thorough, and demonstrated the kind of evidence-based research the fibroid community deserves.
The Patient Experience: Living with Fibroids
Research data can tell you prevalence, risk factors, and treatment outcomes. But Mrs. Shontelle Dixon’s patient testimony reminded everyone in the room why this fibroid research matters. Shontelle shared her personal fibroid journey with courage and vulnerability, including the pain, the dismissals, the impact on her life and future plans, and ultimately, the path to fibroid treatment and advocacy. Her story was a mirror for so many women in the audience who saw their own experiences reflected back. It was a reminder that behind every statistic is a woman who deserves to be heard, believed, and given real fibroid treatment options. Shontelle’s testimony was powerful, personal, and deeply moving.
The Q&A: Fibroid Research Questions Answered
One of the most anticipated parts of Fibroid Summit is always the live Q&A session, and this year did not disappoint. For 30 minutes, attendees had the opportunity to ask Dr. Moore, Dr. DiTosto, Dr. Singh, and Dr. Bowles-Johnson anything they wanted. The questions were thoughtful, specific, and personal.
Though time was limited, researchers answered with patience, clarity, and respect, treating every question as if it were the most important one in the room. This wasn’t a typical academic Q&A where researchers talk at an audience. This was a conversation between scientists and the people whose lives their work impacts. It was collaborative, honest, and exactly what Fibroid Summit is designed to be.
The Sentiment: Raving Reviews and Lasting Connections
As the afternoon drew to a close, something beautiful happened: many attendees stayed. They lingered in the Patuxent Room, continuing conversations with fibroid researchers, exchanging contact information with fellow attendees, and soaking in the rare experience of being in a space where fibroids weren’t whispered about. They were the center of the conversation.
The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees described Summit as “life-changing,” and “incredibly informative”. Healthcare providers left with actionable information they could bring back to their practices. Researchers appreciated the opportunity to engage directly with patients. And patients expressed gratitude for finally being in a room where their questions were welcomed, their experiences validated, and their need for answers taken seriously.
Many stayed long after the official program ended, networking, learning, and building the kind of community connections that sustain fibroid advocacy movements. That’s the magic of Fibroid Summit: it’s not just what happens on stage. It’s what happens in the conversations afterward, in the connections made, and in the knowledge gained that attendees carry forward into their own lives and communities.
Coming Soon: Fibroid Summit 2026 Recordings
Couldn’t attend Fibroid Summit 2026? We’ve got you covered. The entire event was recorded and will be available to view on FibroidFoundation.org at a later date. Whether you missed the event, want to revisit a specific fibroid research presentation, or need to share the research with your doctor, the recordings will ensure this incredible afternoon of learning reaches as many people as possible. Stay tuned for more details on when the recording will be available.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Fibroid Research and Treatment
Fibroid Summit 2026 reminded us why this work matters. Why we show up. Why we refuse to stay silent. Why we demand fibroid research, policy change, and equitable fibroid care.
The researchers are doing the work. The patients are sharing their stories. The advocates are pushing for change. And together, we’re making uterine fibroids impossible to ignore.
Thank you to everyone who attended, everyone who presented, and everyone who made Fibroid Summit 2026 possible. This is how movements grow. This is how change happens. This is just the beginning.
See you at Fibroid Summit 2027.
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