May 13, 2026 1 min read

Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski has been awarded the American Association for Sexuality Education, Counseling and Therapy Humanitarian Award, the AASECT’s highest award.

The award is presented to an individual or group who has contributed to the field of human sexuality through charitable events, public awareness campaigns, educational offerings, or political platform, and who has received national and international recognition for those contributions.

Podgurski, of Washington, taught her first sexuality education as part of her childbirth education classes in 1981. She created a “Growing Up” series for puberty education in 1984 and taught thousands of 9- to- 12-year-olds and their parents at the Washington Hospital until 2004. She founded the Teen Outreach in 1988.

Podgurski and her staff taught sexuality education in 48 schools in five counties, reaching more than 330,000 young people. She has been certified through AASECT since the 1990s.

Podgurski will receive the award May 15 at a virtual ceremony, which will include a slideshow highlighting her work.