Carla Dionne, Founder and Executive Director
Executive Director Carla Dionne founded the National Uterine Fibroids Foundation after suffering from uterine fibroids for over 14 years. Her journey to establishing a return to a healthy and productive Quality of Life was a long and arduous road which wound through mountains of research, thousands of hours online, and a multitude of interviews via telephone calls and personal visits to physicians all over the United States.

"The National Uterine Fibroids Foundation is long overdue. Supporting women is critical to our mission but we must also bring together the scientific community and push forward the agenda of research." CD

A member of the Society for Technical Communication, Dionne is a researcher and writer with over 15 years of experience working for companies such as Intel Corporation, ADP, Visa, and McGhan Medical. She had both the resources and training that most women looking for medical information do not. In founding NUFF, it is her utmost desire to make information more readily available to all women and to help guide the direction of future research in the area of women's reproductive health. A graduate in Communications from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, she has three children and currently resides in Colorado. Email: carla@NUFF.org

Scott C. Goodwin, MD, Chief of Imaging, Department of Veterans Affairs, Greater Los Angeles Health Care System; Chief of Interventional Radiology, Terran Medical Corporation; Professor of Radiology, UCLA Medical Center.

Dr. Scott Goodwin received his undergraduate training at UCLA and his medical training at Harvard Medical School and is certified by the American Board of Radiology.

"Physicians should never forget that patients are people, that diseases are tragedies, and that patients should be fully informed about their options and be active participants in their care." SG

Dr. Goodwin is an author of over 100 abstracts, papers, chapters, or other publications and has given over 80 invited lectures on a variety of topics regarding interventional radiology. He is particularly well known for introducing uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine fibroids in the United States and has served as Program Chair for the Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) Conference since 1998.

Michael S. Broder, MD, UCLA, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Broder attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University and subsequently did his residency at the University of California, Los Angeles. He received additional training through the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program. Dr. Broder's interests include research into reducing unnecessary hysterectomy, uterine artery embolization and improving health care quality.

"One day, I hope uterine fibroids will be curable with a pill. Until then, we need to be sure that women understand all the choices available to them--too many women are told that a hysterectomy will solve their problems and come away thinking that's the only option." MB

He has served as a consultant for RAND Health in Santa Monica, California since 1996 and recently released the study entitled The Appropriateness of Recommendations for Hysterectomy. In 1999, Dr. Broder coordinated an expert panel discussion on the issue of uterine artery embolization and subsequently co-authored the RAND Health publication Uterine Artery Embolization: a systematic review of the literature and proposal for research.

Dr. Broder is a board-certified Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.

Jennifer Berman, MS, MD, UCLA, Female Sexual Medicine Center (FSMC)
Dr. Jennifer Berman is a Urologist with specialized training in Female Urology and Female Sexual Dysfunction. She received her Master of Science degree from the University of Maryland Medical Center and her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. She completed her post-graduate Urology residency training at the University of Maryland, and received specialized fellowship training in Female Urology and Female Pelvic Floor Reconstructive Surgery at UCLA Medical Center.

Laura Berman, Ph.D., UCLA, Female Sexual Medicine Center (FSMC)
Dr. Laura Berman has been working as a sex educator and therapist for over a decade. She completed her Master's in Clinical Social Work and Doctorate in Health Education and Therapy (specializing in human sexuality) at New York University then went on to complete a training fellowship in Sexual Therapy with the Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center.

William H. Parker, MD, Clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the UCLA School of Medicine. He is the former Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and past president of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. He is a board-certified Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology and maintains an active private practice in Santa Monica, California.

Dr. Parker has been a researcher for over a decade in the areas of ovarian cyst surgery, fibroid treatment and laparoscopic surgery and is the author of numerous publications in professional journals including Uterine Sarcoma in Patients Operated on for Presumed Leiomyoma and Rapidly Growing Leiomyoma.

In 1996, Dr. Parker co-authored the book A Gynecologist's Second Opinion: The Questions and Answers You Need to Take Charge of Your Health. In addition, Dr. Parker served as a Consultant on the Women's Health and Hysterectomy Project for the RAND Corporation in 1997 and is currently an Editor for the Journal of American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.

Dr. Parker has been chosen for Best Doctors in America and Top Doctors since the late 90's. He has received numerous awards for his medical/surgical expertise and compassionate care of patients.

Tori Hudson, ND, A Woman's Time, Portland, Oregon
Dr. Tori Hudson, Naturopathic Physician, graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1984. She has served the college in several capacities, as Medical Director, Associate Academic Dean and Interim Academic Dean. In addition, she has more than 13 years of extensive clinical experience, both as a clinical faculty member in the college's teaching clinic and through her private practice. Currently, Dr. Hudson is a professor of Gynecology and maintains a private practice.

In 1990, Dr. Hudson was awarded the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians President's award for her research in the field of women's health care. She served as an advisor to the Department of Health and Human Services and has been active in the establishment of the Office for the Study of Alternative Medicine within the National Institutes of Health. In 1999, Dr. Hudson authored the book Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine.

Patty Meo, RN, Albany Medical Center
Patty Meo is a registered nurse with a strong interest in women's health care and the issue of treatment options for uterine fibroids.

During the past three years, Meo has worked with Dr. Gary Siskin in establishing a uterine fibroid embolization service at Albany Medical College in New York and currently serves as the clinical coordinator for UFE. In addition, she has co-authored several publications on the topic of uterine fibroids and given numerous presentations on patient care issues related to uterine artery embolization.

"...I have played an active role in assisting patients through the difficult process of determining which procedure, if any, is appropriate for a paticular patient suffering from uterine fibroids. In this role, I have been made aware of the biased and limited treatment information offered to these women by their physicians....I believe that increasing the resources available to all women is an important step towards increasing awareness throughout the healthcare community that a variety of treatment options are available to women with fibroids." PM

In an effort to disseminate accurate and appropriate medical information, she actively participates in a wide variety of women's health groups on the internet.

Meo is professionally affiliated with the Radiological Nurses Association, the New York State Nurses Association and the American Heart Association.

Leonie Finkel, Patient Advocate, NY
Leonie Finkel has a life-long interest in both health issues and communication and is a veteran at offering up online support to women in need through a variety of channels on the internet.

"I can't see having a bodily organ amputated to treat what is, after all, a benign condition [uterine fibroids]." LF

Finkel has done volunteer work in the public relations areas of non-profit health-related and civil rights organizations and was instrumental in developing the foundation for NUFF by bringing our incorporation needs to the attention of the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop LLP. She brings an eclectic background to NUFF, having worked in the fields of medicine, law and advertising. Finkel is an advocate representing both myomectomy and uterine artery embolization.

Willie Mae Withers, Patient Advocate, TN
Willie Mae Withers is a long term sufferer of uterine fibroids who understands this disease first hand. Diagnosed with fibroids in 1985, Withers has "watched and waited" for over 15 years and now, in 2001, she's finally sought out appropriate treatment to regain her Quality of Life. While fibroids have slowed her down some, they certainly haven't stopped her from volunteering her time, energy, and skill set to the National Uterine Fibroids Foundation. Withers is a passionate woman who cares deeply about this issue and its impact on African-American women and believes the mission goals of this organization are extremely important to pursue for the health of all women.

Withers earned her Master of Science in Instruction and Curriculum Development from the University of Memphis in Tennessee and is a veteran educator in the Memphis City School system.

Dora Skalisky, Patient Advocate, MN
Dora Skalisky has been a Patient Advocate to women accessing the internet for information on their treatment options for uterine fibroids for several years now. She actively participates on many list groups including Sans Uteri and uterinefibroids. As a seasoned patient advocate on the issue of hysterectomy, Dora speaks eloquently and passionately to women about their right to information on potential treatments, procedural outcome, and how to seek out appropriate patient - physician communication.

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