This session will introduce participants to the mission, vision, and strategic priorities of the International Association of Adolescent Health (IAAH) and its Emerging Professionals Network (EPN), highlighting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, leadership development, and engagement in advancing adolescent health worldwide. Participants will learn how IAAH and the EPN foster international partnerships, support the next generation of adolescent health professionals, and strengthen the global adolescent health workforce.

Building on this global perspective, the session will examine gender as a fundamental determinant of adolescent health across diverse cultural, social, and health system contexts. Through international examples and facilitated discussion, participants will explore how gender norms, identities, and inequities shape health outcomes, access to care, and opportunities for adolescents. The session will conclude by identifying practical strategies for advancing equitable, gender-responsive approaches to adolescent health research, education, policy, and clinical practice.