Around 120 women from across McPherson and as far as Wichita gathered the evening of Saturday, January 31, at the McPherson Opera House for The M Factor Film Screening & Ladies Night, an empowering community event focused on opening honest conversations around menopause.
Hosted in partnership with McPherson Center for Health and Visit McPherson, the event brought together women of various ages for an evening of connection, education, and laughter. Attendees enjoyed a pre-screening celebration featuring food by Tammy Nestor, permanent jewelry by Bonded By BB (located locally at Reverie Salon, 216 N Main), health, wellness, and aesthetics information from S&S MedSpa of Marion, Young Living Oils with Sandy Hunter, resources from the McPherson Public Library, Empower Fitness, Suzanne Fleming, Registered Dietitian with McPherson Center for Health, and Creative Hairlines/Fit4Moms with Courtney Dowsett.
Following the film screening of The M Factor, local providers hosted a live panel discussion, answering audience-submitted questions and sharing insight on menopause and women’s health. Panelists included Melisa Kieffer, PA-C; Dr. Holly Burt, MD; Dr. Sarah Buchanan, OBGYN; Dr. Bailee Norton, MD; Shawna Johnson, APRN; and Suzanne Fleming, MS, RDN, LD.
The discussion was both informative and lighthearted, shedding humor on a topic many women experience quietly. Questions ranged from “How do I get my confidence back?” to “I’m 72, why am I still hot?” One provider explained that hormones play a significant role in confidence, noting that when hormones are out of balance, it’s no wonder women don’t feel like themselves.
Attendee feedback highlighted how meaningful it was to normalize these conversations. Many shared that it felt good to laugh, learn, and realize they are not alone in their experiences.
With The M Factor 2 expected to be released in March, guests were already asking about a second film screening event, signaling strong community interest in continuing these important discussions.
McPherson Center for Health is grateful to all partners, vendors, providers, and attendees who helped make the evening a success, along with a special thank you to Cindy Goldsmith, a community advocate for women’s health whose vision helped bring this event to life.
“We are incredibly thankful to everyone who helped make this possible and to every woman who showed up ready to learn and support one another,” said Carol Fickes, Chief of Provider and Clinic Operations for McPherson Center for Health. “Creating space for open conversations like this reminds us how powerful community can be, and we’re proud to be part of that.”
