Our History
Medical Institute for Sexual Health (MI) was founded in Austin, Texas in 1992 by Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., MD, a prominent obstetrician/gynecologist and infertility specialist. In the 1980’s, Dr. McIlhaney observed that many women needed infertility and cancer treatments resulting from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) they had acquired years earlier. While doing research for a women’s healthcare book, he had recognized the extraordinary magnitude of the STD epidemic. He founded MI in response to these observations.
What began as an education presentation at a local high school evolved into a growing nonprofit organization with national and international influence. MI has been a leading voice providing medically accurate, research-based sexual health information to diverse audiences, ranging from healthcare professionals and educators, to policymakers, parents, and youth. MI conducts outreach through conferences, trainings, brochures, videos, and books.
Our Founder
Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., MD, is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist who resides in Plano, Texas. He has three daughters and nine grandchildren. His beloved wife Marion passed away in 2018 after fifty years of marriage.
During his tenure as a private practitioner, he was active on the medical staff of St. David’s Community Hospital, including serving as president of the medical staff and member of the hospital’s Board of Trustees. As a physician, he focused his attention on reproductive technologies. He introduced laparoscopy, gynecologic laser surgery, and microsurgery to the central Texas medical community.
In 1984, along with three other physicians, Dr. McIlhaney was instrumental in founding one of the first successful non-university IVF programs in the country. He also initiated one of the first women’s health centers in Texas at St. David’s Hospital during his tenure on the board.
Dr. McIlhaney is the author of nine books including, 1001 Health-Care Questions Women Ask. His research for his books focused his attention on the problems rampant in the USA and around the world, including STI’s, condom and contraceptive failure, and HIV/AIDs. As a result, he founded The Medical Institute for Sexual Health, a nonprofit health organization in 1992. In 1995, he left his private practice of twenty-eight years to devote his full-time attention to the work of Medical Institute.
Dr. McIlhaney continues to serve as the CEO of Medical Institute and on its Board.