Julia Zimlich, Period Pro from Medical University of South Carolina
Julia Zimlich, Period Pro
The Lotus Initiative was started in 2023 as a grant-funded community engagement program in partnership with the Period Education Project. A comprehensive health education program addressing menstrual health, sexual health, and safety in relationships, the Lotus Initiative serves female students attending summer camp Horizons at Ashley Hall. With the help of the Period Education Project, the Lotus Initiative aims to reduce stigma around menstruation and empower young girls to navigate puberty and relationships with confidence through knowledge gained.
Since its inception, the Lotus team has grown to include MUSC Chief Period Pro Julia Zimlich (MS4) and Period Pros Emalie Houk (MS4), Ariel Shepherd (MS3), Anjali Borsum (MS3), Kathryn Root (MS3), Vidhi Patel (MS2), and Shinjini Misra (MS2). The diversity of the team allows for each class of medical students to be matched with a class of students from Horizons which creates an opportunity for continuity as each of the medical students will graduate to the next stage of lessons with their students from Horizons each year. The team currently offers weekly lessons spanning three weeks to rising 4th-9th grade girls.
4th -7th graders receive lessons on female anatomy, the menstrual cycle, and menstrual hygiene using resources from the Period Education Project. The lessons are very interactive and offer ample opportunity for the students to ask questions with the goal of furthering understanding and decreasing stigma around these topics. 8th and 9th graders receive lessons on sexual education created by MUSC students using resources from the ACOG DC Teen Promise Project. These lessons cover a review of puberty and anatomy, as well as discuss pregnancy, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and consent.
Future directions of the Lotus Initiative include expanding the curriculum to better meet the needs of the students and fully use our time with them. The next phase of Lotus will include a series of lessons on safety in relationships and is currently in development with the help of resources from Advocates for Youth. The goal is that as these girls complete their time with Horizons following at least three summers with lessons from the Lotus Initiative, they will enter high school having received comprehensive education on menstrual health and puberty, sexual education and safe practices, as well as safety in relationships. We hope to expand our outreach to reach more youth in the Charleston community.