Moving the Needle Forward: Delivering on the Strategic Plan

Moving the Needle Forward: Delivering on the Strategic Plan

More than halfway through the first year of the ASRM 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, we're pleased to share our progress and highlight how ASRM is evolving with both the field and its members in mind. These are just a few of the updates happening in advocacy and membership. Next month we’ll look at developments in workforce development and career advancement as well as research and innovation.From expanded training to reimagined networking, this is what’s new—and what’s next.

Advocacy and Impact: The Rise of PRIMED and State-Level Engagement

The expansion of the CPL PRIMED program, now entering its second cohort, has been a standout success in the advocacy domain. PRIMED offers ASRM members a structured, hands-on opportunity to learn the ropes of advocacy in reproductive health.

“It’s a bridge into the policy side of things,” says Anna Hovey, Advocacy Engagement Specialist. She describes the program as a training opportunity for members interested in engaging in reproductive health policy and advocacy, no matter their professional background. Participants include physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. The program includes educational modules, regular meetings, and a capstone project presented at the ASRM Scientific Congress. 

“Last year’s cohort stayed tightly connected,” says Hovey. “They still have an active group chat and have gone on to shift their roles into more advocacy-centered work.”

Also new in the advocacy landscape: localized town halls in response to specific state legislation. ASRM hosted state-specific events in Tennessee and Oregon, a shift from broader federal legislative updates.

“The Oregon town hall was to rally support around a coverage mandate bill that unfortunately didn’t pass,” explained Emma Berens, Manager of Federal Government Affairs. “In Tennessee, it was more defensive, educating members about a bill we opposed that would have changed the regulatory structure for reproductive care.”

This state-level specificity marks a strategic shift in response to an uptick in state-level legislation aimed at reproductive rights. Hovey emphasized that, while ASRM has held issue-based town halls before, the Society's emphasis on events around individual state legislation helps members respond in real time.

To enhance the reach of these efforts, ASRM has also engaged with a PR firm specializing in strategic communications. This partnership aims to place op-eds, amplify member voices, and respond more proactively to rapidly evolving issues, especially those gaining national media attention, such as the legal status of embryos or the aftermath of state-level IVF rulings.

Member Engagement and Satisfaction: Going Local, Going Personal

ASRM’s work to increase engagement has taken on a more member-centric, personalized approach. According to Dani Mosley, Director of Membership, “We’re really focusing on connecting with members where they are, geographically and professionally.”

ASRM is planning quarterly in-person events in various cities across the U.S. The proposed events are slated to be informal networking gatherings paired with short advocacy or education presentations. “Think Topgolf or a restaurant meetup,” said Mosley. “It’s meant to be fun, local, and low-pressure, but also a way to bring our members together who can’t make it to Congress.”

Another push toward member networking includes virtual meetups through member groups. One would think Zoom fatigue would hinder participation, but that hasn’t been the case. All six professional groups now host virtual meetups, many with a hybrid learning/social format. 

“Surprisingly, these Zoom events have strong attendance,” said Mosley. “Sometimes we’ll see close to 50 participants per session.”

Other initiatives mentioned in the progress report include a new association management system (AMS), software designed to help societies like ASRM manage their membership, events, finances, and report on data. The new AMS design will improve navigation and offer a more personalized user experience. 

“We’ll finally be able to track how members are interacting with us and better respond to low-engagement indicators,” Mosley explained.

View the full Progress Report 

These have all been intentional efforts to support five strategic domains: advocacy and impact, member engagement and satisfaction, workforce development, research and innovation, and education.

Continue to follow along as we unpack progress made in our other strategic areas, including workforce development, career advancement, and research and innovation.

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