Staff

Megan Higdon, MPH, Co-Director

Megan Higdon (she/her) co-directs the National Coalition for Sexual Health and oversees sexual and reproductive health work within the organization. With over 14 years of experience in her field, Megan’s work has largely focused on directing program evaluations examining the accessibility and quality of sexual and reproductive care. She is also experienced in directing strategic initiatives and quality improvement for family planning and sexual health organizations. Megan holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Susan Gilbert, MPA, Co-Director

Susan Gilbert, a consultant to Altarum, also serves as co-director of NCSH. Susan leads NCSH’s Communications Action Group, pioneered a new sexual health definition and the “Five Action Steps to Good Sexual Health,” and directs media outreach. Susan creates health communication campaigns and coalitions in the U.S. and internationally to promote sexual health, HIV prevention, and family planning. Previously, Susan served as a health communications consultant to Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, Population Services International, WomenHeart, and other NGOs. Prior to living and working in Africa for eight years, she was Senior Vice President at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide. Susan holds a Master of Public Administration, with an emphasis in Public Health, from UMass/Amherst and a BA from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Krissy Leahy, MPH, Project Manager

Krissy Leahy, MPH (she/her) is the Sexual and Reproductive Health Project Manager for NCSH and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Coalition. She has over 10 years of experience in the field of reproductive health and justice. Her leadership and goals in coalitions and community-based projects have always been focused on eliminating health inequities impacting Black women, girls and gender expansive people. Krissy is committed to improving equitable access to non-judgmental, inclusive care and health services for everyone.

Nathalie Canadas, Senior Health Communications Specialist

Nathalie Canadas serves as the Senior Health Communications Specialist at NCSH, with over a decade of expertise in strategic communications, project management, and content development. With a strong commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting health equity, Nathalie is passionate about shaping impactful communications strategies and designing awareness campaigns. She is dedicated to tackling minority health issues, utilizing her skills to develop engaging tools and resources. A proud alumna of the University of Maryland, College Park, Nathalie combines academic knowledge with practical experience to drive positive change in the field of health communications.