Welcome to SSTAR's 49th Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada. This year's program challenges participants to consider the importance of adopting an intersectional lens when engaging in sex science and clinical work. We are committed to making this an inclusive, engaging, and impactful conference. Samantha Dawson and Uzma Rehman, Scientific Program Co-Chairs, have put together an outstanding program of more than 40 oral presentations, data blitzes, panel presentations, as well as 36 poster presentations from a record 100+ abstract submissions. This is a clear sign that our community of groundbreaking sex researchers and clinical practitioners are more engaged than ever. I would also like to thank Rahim Thawer and Trevor Hart, Local CoChairs, for organizing the dinner event on Friday evening. I look forward to seeing many of you there!

Featured speakers include:

• Rahim Thawer, MSW, RSW - Putting Anti-Oppression into Sex Therapy Practice (workshop)
• Edy Nathan, MA, LCSW, CST - The Sexual Grief Effect and How It Loves to Hide (workshop)
• Simon Dubé, PhD - Erobotics: The Future of Sex Research and Therapy
• Jane Fleishman, PhD - Ain't No Stopping Us Now: The Promises and Pitfalls of Sexuality as We Age
• Ariella Binik, PhD - Ethical Challenges in Research on Sexual Dysfunction
• Nicole Prause, PhD & David Ley, PhD - Leading Clients to Water: Hypersexuality and Research Based Methods to Decrease Distress
• Paz Galupo, PhD - Your existence is Resistance: Resilience, Joy, and the Weaponization of Queer & Trans Identities
• Daniela Wittmann, PhD, MSW - Oncosexuality in Sub Saharan Africa
• Kathryn Hall, PhD & Cynthia Graham, PhD - Ethics Workshop: The Privileging of Pleasure: Sex Therapy in Global Cultural Context

In addition to this exceptional scientific programming, SSTAR is thrilled to be honoring some very deserving scholars with awards this year: Dr. Lucie Fielding is the recipient of the 2024 Health Professional Book Award for her book Trans Sex: Clinical Approaches to Trans Sexualities and Erotic Embodiments, Dr. Suzanne Iasenza will receive an exceptional merit for her book Transforming Sexual Narratives: A Relational Approach to Sex Therapy, and the 2024 recipient of the Sandra R. Leiblum Student Research Award is Kiarah O'Kane for their paper Associations Between Genital Self-Image and Individuals' Own and Perceived Partner Sexual Satisfaction.

I also look forward to discussing the future directions of SSTAR with many of you at this year's conference. 2024 is a year of strategic planning for the organization, and this is your opportunity to provide your input on how to best achieve SSTAR's mandate to foster and advance the highest quality sex therapy and research.

Do not hesitate to reach out to me questions, and comments regarding SSTAR at President@sstarnet.org.

Morag Yule, PhD President, Society for Sex Therapy and Research