Speakers

Melissa Avery, PhD, CNM,

 FACNM, FAAN

Melissa Avery, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN has been Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health since January 2022. She is also Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota, School of Nursing, where she led the graduate midwifery program for 24 years. Dr. Avery has a record of peer reviewed publications as well as two edited or co-edited books. Among other funded research and education projects, Dr. Avery was Co-Principal Investigator of a nationally funded multisite project launched by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists examining interprofessional education among graduate midwifery students and obstetrics and gynecology residents. She is a Fellow in ACNM and the American Academy of Nursing and a past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Sarah Berga, MD

Sarah L. Berga, MD is Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo SUNY, President UBMD Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Medical Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health Program Development for Oishei Children’s Hospital and Kaleida Health
Dr. Berga received her BAS from the University of Virginia and her MD from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harvard University followed by a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine
Dr. Berga served as Director, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Utah, 2018-2020; Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Executive Director of Women’s Health at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from 2011 to 2018; Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Psychiatry, and Chair of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia from 2003 to 2011; and was a faculty member in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2003.
She has held numerous leadership positions in local, national, and international professional organizations.  Awards include the SGI (SRI) President’s Achievement Award (2000), the Berthold Medal of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Endokrinologie (2005), and the SRI (SGI) DeCherney Society Lifetime Distinguished Service Award (2020).  Past leadership positions include President of SGI (now Society for Reproductive Investigation) and Society of Humanism in Medicine and member of the Board of Directors of Emory Healthcare, University of Pittsburgh Physicians, and American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).  She currently serves on the Board of the International Society of Gynecologic Endocrinology and the Board of Trustees of Salem Academy and College, the first women’s college in America founded in 1772. 
Her research interests include neuroendocrine mechanisms mediating stress-induced reproductive compromise and understanding the impact of sex hormones on brain health using state-of-the-art neuroimaging in human and monkey models. Her team pioneered the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for stress-induced anovulation.  Her clinical interests include IVF, infertility, reproductive aging, hypothalamic amenorrhea, polycystic ovary syndrome, and hormonal management of perimenopause and menopause

Camille Clare, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOG

Camille A. Clare, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOG is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist. She received her medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, and completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She obtained a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management at New York Medical College. In 2012, Dr. Clare received the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics Excellence in Teaching award. In May 2018, Dr. Clare was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, lota Chapter, New York, New York Medical College as a Faculty member. Dr. Clare has previously served as Chair and Tenured Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Downstate Health Sciences University (DHSU) College of Medicine and Professor of Health Policy and Management of DHSU School of Public Health. She has also previously served as Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at New York Medical College from 2016-2020.
Dr. Clare is an active member of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), serving in leadership roles on the section, district, and national levels, and on several national committees. She is past ACOG District 2 Chair. She is ACOG National Secretary. She was recognized as an ACOG Mentor of the Year in 2017, and received Distinguished Service award on behalf of ACOG District 2 in 2021. Dr. Clare is currently ACOG President Elect as of May 2025.
Dr. Clare is also an active member of the National Medical Association (NMA), and has served in leadership roles on the local, regional and national levels. She has immediate past roles in the NMA including as Region 1 Trustee, NMA Obstetrics and Gynecology Section Chair, and Finance Chair of the NMA Board of Trustees. Dr. Clare has received the National Medical Association Scroll of Merit award in 2016, which is the highest honor that the NMA bestows. She also received the NMA Region 1 Service award in 2012, and the National Medical Association Obstetrics and Gynecology Section Award for Best Practices in Breastfeeding in 2017.

Heather Dacus, DO, MPH

Heather Dacus, DO, MPH is a board-certified preventive medicine physician at the New York State Department of Health and serves as Director of the Bureau of Cancer Prevention and Control.  She has nearly 20 years of public health experience overseeing statewide cancer screening and prevention initiatives. Dr. Dacus is a longtime member of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, the NYS Cancer Consortium and the Citywide Colorectal Cancer Coalition (C5).

Christine Foley, MD

Dr. Christine Foley is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinician Educator at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. She is a clinical specialist in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.  Dr. Foley completed her medical education at the University of Massachusetts, her residency in Ob/Gyn at NYU and her MIGS Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.  She is very involved in SGS and AAGL and considers herself a passionate surgical educator.
Rebecca began her career in public relations, marketing and publishing. She received her B.A. from Princeton University and later earned a certificate in coaching leaders from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Rebecca Haarlow

Rebecca is an Emmy-Award Winning broadcaster, communications consultant and executive coach with expertise in public speaking, leadership presence and media training.
Leveraging 20 years of broadcast journalism and storytelling experience, Rebecca is the Founder of the Leadership Voice Workshop and empowers corporate clients, professional athletes and coaches with a highly curated set of tools that provide the foundation for more effective communication, increased confidence and impactful leadership. 
When Rebecca isn’t coaching exceptional corporate clients, you can find her interviewing world class athletes and sharing compelling stories on televisions across the world while covering the NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB over the course of her career.

Franziska Haydanek, DO, FACOG

Franziska Haydanek, DO, MPH is a board certified ObGyn working for Rochester Regional Health in Rochester, New York. She works as a generalist for our largest hospital in the system and am also the medical director of obstetrics for my hospital. In addition, she spends a lot of time educating online surrounding the topics of obstetrics & gynecology. She lives in Rochester with her husband and three children.

John Jennings, MD

Dr. John C. Jennings is Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He served as 65th President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 2014-2015, a medical specialty society consisting of 64,000 members in the United States and affiliated countries with headquarters in Washington, DC.  Prior to becoming ACOG President he served from 2006-2012 as Regional Dean of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin, School of Medicine. Dr. Jennings is a 1967 graduate of Union University and 1970 graduate of the University of Tennessee, College of Medicine in Memphis.  He did his internship at Hermann Hospital of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.  He served as medical officer for the United States Air Force Security Service. Dr. Jennings was in private practice in San Angelo, Texas for twelve years prior to entering academic medicine. He has previously served as Head of Gynecology and Program Director in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wake Forest University, Professor and Program Director in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch and Department Chair and Program Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo. Dr. Jennings is a passionate medical educator.  He is the primary Co-Founder of the Laura Bush Institute for Women’s Health at TTUHSC.  He has served as a confidential peer review and quality improvement consultant to over 100 hospitals and medical boards nationwide.  In 1997 he appeared in all major television networks as a spokesperson for physician/patient relationships.  Dr. Jennings was honored as the 2006-2007 Educator of the Year by District VII of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the 2012 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Distinguished Faculty Award, the 2013 ACOG Mentor of the Year Award, and the 2013 Texas Medical Association Gold Award for Excellence in Medical Education. In 2012 Dr. Jennings received the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Baden -Gibbs Award for outstanding lifetime service to obstetrics and gynecology and the women of Texas. Dr. Jennings was recognized by Texas Senate Proclamation No. 746 for his exceptional contributions to women’s health. He is the 2016 recipient of the University of Tennessee, College of Medicine Outstanding Alumnus Award, and the 2017 Union University Distinguished Achievement Award.  In 2021 Dr. Jennings received the American College of Nurse Midwives Exemplary Partner Award. Dr. Jennings has authored numerous publications including peer review articles, book chapters, and periodicals.  Dr.  Jennings served for twelve years as a senior editor for the widely used national and international published textbook “Case Files in Obstetrics and Gynecology”. From 1994 until 2012 he was a monthly contributor to Practical Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology sponsored by Johns Hopkins University.  He served for twenty-two years as the Chair of the Editorial Board of TEXAS MEDICINE, the state medical journal.  The 2016 published product of Dr. Jennings’ ACOG multi-disciplinary presidential initiative, “Collaboration in Practice: Implementing Team-Based Care”, has been endorsed to date by over twenty national health care organizations. He served as Co-Principal Investigator of joint ACOG/ACNM multi-institutional project to develop inter-professional education for maternity care.

Dr. Jennings was Vice President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 2011-2012 and then served as a presidential officer from 2013-2016. He was the founding Chair of ACOG Texas District XI from 2007-2010. He received the 2011 ACOG Outstanding District Service Award.  Dr. Jennings served as Oral Examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  He is a former President of the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  Dr. Jennings and his wife Sue Ellen met at Union University.  They have been married for 56 years, and live in League City, Texas.  They have three daughters and their families who all live in Texas allowing frequent visits with their six grandchildren

Dawnette Lewis, MD, MPH

Michael Nimaroff, MD, MBA, FACOG

Dr. Michael Nimaroff is the Senior Vice President & Executive Director of Ob/Gyn at Northwell Health and is the Chair of Ob/Gyn at Lenox Hill Hospital.  Dr. Nimaroff is an Associate Professor of Ob/Gyn at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and also received his MBA in Health Services Management from Hofstra University, Frank G. Zarb School of Business in 2016.  In these roles, Dr. Nimaroff drives the strategic vision and quality initiatives for the division.  Dr. Nimaroff has the privilege to be responsible for 10 birthing hospitals, representing nearly 1% of the births in the United States.  Dr. Nimaroff has practiced in the Northwell Health/North Shore community for over 30 years. Initially trained as a General Ob Gyn, his practice dealt with the full range of obstetrical & gynecologic conditions.  With the birth of the field of minimally invasive surgery in the early 1990’s, Dr. Nimaroff began to focus his practice on this new area of specialization, becoming a leader in this field and teaching new minimally invasive techniques to other physicians, locally, regionally, and nationally. Dr. Nimaroff founded the Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery in 2009 and during his tenure has introduced multiple subspecialty programs throughout the health system.  In his clinical practice, he has a special interest in fertility preserving minimally invasive procedures, and management and prevention of recurrent pregnancy loss.  Dr. Nimaroff and his team spearheaded and established the Center for Maternal Health, a multidisciplinary and comprehensive initiative to combat the crisis of racially disparate outcomes in the communities they serve.   This critically important program identifies opportunities to address inequities of care throughout a patient’s pregnancy journey which may prevent adverse maternal outcomes.  

Jennifer Pollard, MD, FACOG

Dr Pollard is a practicing Generalist OBGYN and Assistant Professor at Albany Medical Center. After completing her residency training at Stony Brook University in 2021, she developed her clinical niche as a provider in the capital region specializing in chronic pelvic pain. In addition to her individual work, she functions as part of a multidisciplinary clinic composed of practitioners dedicated to diagnosing and treating patients living with complex pelvic pain. Her clinical interests otherwise include gynecologic ultrasound and sexual medicine. She is also proud to serve as the Director of Wellness for the department's faculty and residents.

Joanne Stone, MD

Joanne Stone MD MS is a Professor and System Chair of the Raquel and Jaime GIlinski Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is a maternal fetal medicine specialist, a past President of the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine, serves on the Board of Governors of AIUM, and was held numerous roles in ACOG District II section 1.  She is the Director of the first Rainbow Clinic for pregnancy after loss patients in the US, and has a special interest in multifetal pregnancies and invasive procedures, including CVS and amniocentesis.

Loralei Thornburg, MD

Loralei L.  Thornburg MD (she/her) is the James R. Woods, Jr. Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and division director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY where she completed residency & fellowship.   She is passionate about the care of people with complex disease in pregnancy, most notability focused on neurologic and cardiac disease in pregnancy.  She works with a number of organizations around the country to help birthing people have access to the care they need to have safe and healthy reproductive lives, including during labor and delivery.

Jane van Dis, MD

Dr. Jane van Dis lectures nationally and internationally on the intersection of the climate crisis and women's and maternal health. She Co-Founded OBGYNs For Sustainable Future, and is a founding member of the Physician and Scientist Network on Plastics and Health (P-SNAP).  Dr. van Dis has also published on the climate and plastic crisis and women's health.

Renee Williams, MD, MHPE

Renee Williams, MD, MHPE is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Within the Department of Medicine, she is the Associate Chair for Health Equity and the Director of the Saul Farber Program in Health Equity.  Her interests include health disparities in colorectal cancer screening and medical education with a focus on simulation education.  She is the Co-Chair of the New York Citywide Colorectal Cancer Coalition (C5) Risk assessment and Screening committee and served on the Board of Trustees for the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). From 2018-2024.

Jason Wright, MD

Dr. Wright is the Sol Goldman Professor and Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Columbia University and Editor-in-Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology.