New England Fertility Society

Ballot for 2019 Elective Officers

New England Fertility Society
c/o Michelle Picher, Executive Administrator
110 Patricia Drive, Tewksbury, MA 01876
Phone/Fax (978)- 640-9176

EMAIL: michellepicher@nefs.org

MEMBERS ONLY! You must be a paid active member at the time of the election period.

The VOTING Period Begins:  Monday, November 19, 2018
The VOTING Period Ends:  Monday, November 26, 2018 by 11:59pm

the 2019 Election Process ends on December 4th with the announcement of the newly elected officers at the last quarterly meeting.  The results will also be posted on www.nefs.org under Members: Election Results 2019 Executive Board Members. 

After reading through the bios, please click ONE button per category. All categories MUST have a selection. If you do not wish to vote for that category, please select that button. You must fill in your Member Name and Email in the boxes below or this ballot will not be valid...thank you

Biographies of Candidates on the Ballot

PRESIDENT-ELECT CANDIDATES

PAULA G. DWAN, RN, MS, WHNP-BC 
Lexington Third Party Reproduction Program Manager & Nurse Practitioner
Boston IVF, The Lexington Center &  Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates

I have worked in the Boston area as a nurse practitioner and nurse manager in the field of REI for 29 years. Currently,  I am the Third Party Reproduction Program Manager and Nurse Practitioner at the Lexington Center of Boston IVF.  I am also employed as a part-time nurse practitioner at the Center for Fertility and Reproductive Health at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates

Throughout my career in the field of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, I have been a nursing leader with respect to clinical and educational opportunities for nurses. I have acted as a mentor for new nurses entering the field, a preceptor for nurse practitioner students,  and as a resource to less  experienced nurses. I am passionate about the field of REI and the many advances in technology  and clinical care that have evolved during my tenure in this field. My judgment and experience are highly valued by the physicians, clinical staff and administrative staff with whom I work.

I have been an active and enthusiastic member of the New England Fertility Society  since 2000, and I have held the following Executive Board Positions:  Nursing Member-At-Large (2018 & 2015) and Secretary (2009 & 2001). Additionally, I have held executive positions for the New England Nurses for Reproductive Medicine: Co-Chairperson (2015 to Present) and Chairperson (2000 - 2001). Many of you know me as a member of the NEFS Annual Meeting Social Committee:  2018 Kentucky Derby at Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, MA;  2017 Cinco-de-Mayo  at the Cliff House, Ogunquit, ME;  2016 April Fools at Stowe Inn, Stowe, VT; and 2015 Kentucky Derby at Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, MA.

I hope to bring my experience as a nurse, my steadfast support of clinical education in REI, and my avid and enthusiastic commitment to NEFS to the position of President-Elect.  My experience as an executive board member will allow me to help lead the NEFS Executive Board and organization into the future.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

 

NINA RESETKOVA, MD, MBA
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialist at Boston IVF
Clinical Instructor, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of OB/GYN and Harvard Medical School

I see patients in the Quincy (South Shore) location at Boston IVF. I also teach medical students, residents and fellows at BIDMC/Harvard Medical School as well as medical students from Tufts Medical Center. I completed my fellowship training at Boston IVF and stayed on as a faculty at the same organization.

I have been an active participant in community building for over 20 years. Along with my medical degree, I sought a Masters degree in Business Administration to better equip medical decision making in the face of rising healthcare costs, and have been involved in several studies addressing cost effectiveness in healthcare. During my medical training, I organized an interdisciplinary education program to integrate the health professions in shared decision making and understanding of providers' roles in health care. During my residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, I helped run the House Staff Council in an executive role. In my transition to the New England area for my fellowship training, I joined a committee group on the Massachusetts Medical Society to better understand regional health issues. I have been a member of the New England Fertility Society for several years and served in the role of Secretary on the NEFS Board for the last year.

My priority as president elect would be to further the mission of the NEFS, raising awareness of the organization and growing member participation and engagement. One of my lead educational interests is in the area of fertility innovation and the opportunities new technologies can provide to the industry. Many new innovative solutions are becoming available that can improve our patients' experiences and facilitate the fertility journey - I would like to educate our membership about these powerful new tools, whether this is from basic science changing our understanding of the developing embryo to fertility apps that are changing the way patients track their fertility. I hope to engage the membership of NEFS to be ahead of the curve in understanding how these advances continue to shape our field. 

I am also interested the formation and function of teams. As president elect, I intend to integrate the health professions that serve our industry to improve our understanding of how to care for patients. Education is a very important part of this process, which is why I intend to bring a high quality, diverse, and dynamic speaker series to the NEFS quarterly meetings and specifically the Annual Meeting to not only educate us, but also challenge our view of the way medicine is currently practiced.

Lastly, I hope to partner with you to understand your needs and concerns as we work together to shape the future of NEFS.

 

TREASURER CANDIDATES

DAVID PALMERINO
Metro Pharmacy

I have been a member of the New England Fertility Society for the past 20 years while working in Business Development and Sales for IVP Pharmaceutical, Village Pharmacy and now Metro Pharmacy while covering the New England Territory. My educational background of an Economics/Finance degree and Business Development/Sales background will allow me to work with the Executive Committee to keep advancing the Society’s philosophy while supporting its growth. In my previous positions, my hard work and dedication helped grow my pharmacies into a national presence; therefore I’ll use that same attitude and approach in continuing the great work of the Society. The New England Fertility Society has always been a highly respected community that enlightens clinicians and non-clinicians alike while remaining a major resource in promoting fertility awareness to members and the fertility industry itself. I’d be honored equally to be a part of the Executive Board to continue its great history and to follow Joe Travia, in this position, who was a devoted member. Thank you.

MICHAEL SALVATORE ABRAMO
Chief Financial Officer, Village Fertility Pharmacy

Mike Abramo joined Village in September of 2018. As Chief Financial Officer, Mike oversees all aspects of the finance function including maintaining the financial statements, conducting analysis of key performance indicators, forecasting and budgeting. He also directly oversees human resources and IT. Mike joined Village after spending nearly three years at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority where he spent two years as Chief Financial Officer before being promoted to Chief Administrator where he led a team of nearly 500 employees. While at the MBTA, he developed and implemented a turnaround plan that put the MBTA on a path to long-term fiscal sustainability including the first balance budget in over 10 year. Prior to joining the MBTA, he served as Interim CFO for two portfolio companies of General Catalyst Partners, a Boston-based venture capital firm. He also worked at Ascend Learning and Alvarez & Marsal after beginning his career at PwC in both the Audit and Transaction Advisory Services divisions.  He holds a bachelor of science in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts and is a licensed CPA in Massachusetts. I bring a strong track record of managing finances for a diverse portfolio of organizations.  I am excited to be part of the leadership of a group so important to the New England Fertility Community.  

NEW HAMPSHIRE MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

MARCIA SINCLAIR, R.N.
Center for Reproductive Care, Exeter, NH

I have been a nurse for 33 years, 32 of those in women's health care.  For the last 16 years, I have been a nurse at the Center for Reproductive Care in New Hampshire.  This is, by far, the best job I have ever had.  The nurses in our office are truly a part of a team, working along with the physicians to give our patients the best care that we can, and hopefully help them to achieve their dreams of parenthood.  We make a real difference in the lives of our patients, and it is an honor to be able to help them.  I do think that nurses connect with their patients in a different way than do physicians.  In our practice at least, we are the ones dealing with the patients on a daily basis, fielding phone calls, educating them, talking them off the ledge, sometimes offering them a shoulder to cry on.  I was told recently that nurses make up about a third of the membership of the New England Fertility Society.  If I am chosen as the New Hampshire member-at-large, there will then be at least 2 nurses on the Executive Committee to represent the views and needs of those nurses.  Thank you for your consideration.

 

RHODE ISLAND MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE 

VICTORIA V. SNEGOVSKIKH, MD
Assistant Professor, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University / Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI,

Dr. Snegovskikh graduated from I.P. Pavlov State Medical University of St. Petersburg Summa cum Laude and did her first residency there. After residency Victoria worked for a couple of years in a busy private practice in St. Petersburg, Russia and had her office right in the heart of the beautiful historic city center. Her second residency, now in United States, was at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT.

Victoria joined the REI division of Brown University in July of 2012 as a clinical fellow and stayed on as a faculty to continue her carrier at Brown. She is currently investigating stem cells nische in the fallopian tubes of mice as well as changes in cervical mucus rheology during different fertility treatments at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. Her clinical research interests include tubal factor infertility, predictors of success and long term safety outcomes in women using assisted reproduction technologies. 

As a part of her international research and global health collaboration projects, Victoria and her husband have organized several conferences and workshops while travelling to Siberia, Russia.

During residency and fellowship she received multiple awards for her laparoscopic surgical skills as well as student and residents teaching awards. As a faculty she continues this teaching mission and is leading Ultrasound rotations for residents and medical students, as well as electives on “Women’s health and reproduction”. Victoria has been awarded every year with several excellence –in –teaching awards and last year she received Dean’s teaching award for leadership in “Human reproduction, Growth and Development” course for 2nd year medical students at Brown . She enjoys clinical teaching and mentoring students, residents and fellows and is very dedicated to her mentees. She also serves at several hospital committees and takes all her tasks very seriously.

Dr. Snegovskikh is an enthusiastic member of several societies, including ASRM, ESHRE, SRI and NEFS and she would love to share her international experience with NEFS as well as happily serve on committees to represent the state of Rhode Island.

 

CONNECTICUT MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

EVELYN NEUBER, PhD
Research Coordinator for the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services

I am currently the Research Coordinator for the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services. We are an academic affiliation of the UConn Health Center located in Farmington, CT. I have had the privilege of serving on the NEFS board as the Member-at-Large from Connecticut for the last term, and in 2011 as the President of NEFS. My first meeting was back in the 1990’s when I was both a graduate student at Boston College and an Embryologist at Boston IVF. Ever since then, I have felt connected to NEFS and have really enjoyed being able to contribute to the society by serving on various committees. My goal for the next two years is to continue working on advocacy, and to include updates to our members on our website from the various states. I think this is a great way for all of us to all remain informed about what is happening locally in the field.

 

INDUSTRY CANDIDATES

TERU JELLERETTE-NOLAN, PhD, MS, TS (ABB)
Senior Medical Science Liaison Ferring Pharmaceuticals

I am honored to have been nominated by my peers for the member-at-large for Industry. I have held the position of Senior Medical Science Liaison in the Northeast for Ferring Pharmaceutical for four years. I am a New England native and have been an active member of NEFS for many years. Prior to my position at Ferring I enjoyed a long career as an Assistant Professor of research OB/GYN and infertility and Senior Embryologist with greater than 12 years of experience in clinical research and Embryology. As Assistant Professor, my research sought to understand several molecular causes of infertility. As an Embryologist, I had the honor of helping numerous patients achieve parenthood. I have enjoyed my transition to Ferring where I am able to continue to support my colleagues; the dedicated physicians, nurses, embryologists, scientists, mental health and support staff in the field of ART. I believe my background provides a unique perspective that will help to support the mission of the New England Fertility Society.

HANNAH LIND
Nurse Educator, Village Fertility Pharmacy

Thank you, I’m honored to be nominated for the Industry Member-at-Large position. I have worked as a nurse in our REI field for 25 years now. At Boston IVF, an IVF Coordinator; and since 2004, as a Nurse Educator for Village Fertility Pharmacy. My role includes providing education to patients, organizing nurse educational programs and working with and supporting our sales team. Having both the medical/clinical and industry experience, gives me clear perspective and great respect of these ever-changing roles. I look forward to contributing to the valuable work and resources that NEFS provides.

 

NURSING MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

KRISTIN M. MACCUTCHEON, RN, BSN 
Nurse Manager, Boston IVF

I started in the field of infertility in 1998 and came to Boston IVF in January, 1999.  I have worn many hats at Boston IVF including IVF Coordinator, Office Nurse, PGD Coordinator, Clinical Study Nurse Coordinator, Nurse Manager and  ISO Management Representative.  I have been a part of many changes at Boston IVF over the years, including ISO certification, rolling out the PGD program, training, and most recently our merger.  Being on the front lines has taught me just how vital every member of our team is.  I have been involved in research studies and co-authored a chapter in The Boston IVF Handbook of Infertility.  I was an invited speaker at ASRM as well as at the Annual Resolve Conference.  Finally, I have been on several Advisory Boards.  As an Executive Committee member. I hope to continue to foster a passion for infertility nursing within the new nurse population.  Support among peers is vital.  We need to mentor our new nurses and foster an environment of learning and caring, sharing our ideas and experiences.  Thank you for your consideration.

 

LEGAL MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

DAVINA FANKHAUSER
President, Fertility Within Reach

Davina Fankhauser, President of Fertility Within Reach, is an expert on policy related to benefits for fertility treatment and preservation. She advises patients and professionals on how to effectively communicate with insurers, employers, and legislators to increase access to health benefits. Davina’s previous work includes RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Resolve of New England, and Hastings Entertainment where she excelled in contract negotiations and earned an award for $1 Million in corporate savings. Davina currently volunteers on the Advisory Board for Parents Via Egg Donation and the Utah Infertility Resource Center, as Advisor for Hasidah, and serves on the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NICU Parent Advisory Council. Her memberships include The American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the New England Fertility Society (NEFS).

Davina and Fertility Within Reach’s, evidence-based information are sought after at both patient and professional conferences. To date, she has presented at professional conferences such as The American Bar Association, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the New England Fertility Society. Davina is a recurring speaker at patient conferences organized by groups such as Fertility Planit, Resolve New England, and the Richmond Fertility Workshop.

Davina successfully lobbied, wrote legislation, conducted research, developed resource material, and provided testimony for greater access to fertility treatment at the state and federal level. Her work has helped change benefit practices amongst employers and legislators throughout the United States. Organizations have publicized Davina's expertise through podcasts, webinars, and web content. Publications such as The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and Fortune Magazine have published interviews with her. Numerous infertility organizations such as RESOLVE, Resolve New England and the Tinina Q. Cade Foundation have honored her. Davina has consulted with start-up companies such as Opionato and Fertility IQ.

As Member-at-Large Legal of NEFS, I would be a proactive member addressing current issues, thinking broadly concerning the organization’s future, and quickly responding to issues requiring immediate attention. NEFS will benefit from my tenacity and expertise, relationships with peers, elected and appointed officials, comfort with legal documents, research and advocacy, and from more than a decade of reading, writing and negotiating policies as they pertain to reproductive health science, law and practice. Accountability, flexibility, compassion, passion, and humor are part of my authentic self. Also, when serving in an executive position, I like to be efficient with time and set goals with measurable outcomes. I would serve NEFS with honor, humility, and exceptional work.

 

BEHAVIORAL MENTAL HEALTH MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATE

KATE WELDON LEBLANC
Executive Director, RESOLVE New England (RNE)

Kate Weldon LeBlanc, BSW, MPA is the Executive Director of RESOLVE New England (RNE). Prior to RNE, she worked for the Center for Early Relationship Support of Jewish Family & Children’s Service, the Child Advocacy and Government Relations departments at Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Massachusetts Legislature. As an NEFS Member-at-Large focused on Mental Health, I would proudly represent the emotional health perspective as it relates to infertility. I would seek to help make the NEFS membership reflect a more diverse range of professional roles within the fertility community, including but not limited to social workers and psychologists.

 

EMBRYOLOGY MEMBER AT LARGE CANDIDATES

DONNA CUNNINGHAM
Senior Embryologist, Boston IVF

I am honored to have been nominated for the position of Embryology – Member at Large. My current position is as a senior embryologist at Boston IVF and I have more than 30 years of experience in human embryology. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Merrimack College and am certified as a Technical Supervisor in Embryology and Andrology by the American Board of Bioanalysis. As a senior embryologist at IVF New England in Lexington MA since its inception in 1988, I oversaw the implementation of numerous innovative laboratory techniques including Assisted Hatching, ICSI, PGD/S, Vitrification, and Oocyte banking for fertility preservation and commercial egg banking. I have also presented scientific research as well as educational programs at local and national meetings but my heart is never far from the microscope and the patients I gratefully serve. As an active member of the NEFS for many years I have previously served on the Executive Committee in the position of Secretary and continue to be an active member of the Social Committee for the NEFS Annual meetings. It would be my honor to represent Embryology as a Member-at-Large in the New England Fertility Society.

DARLENE DAVIES
Senior Embryologist at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services/UCONN Fertility

I have been an embryologist for 15 years, starting at Brigham & Womans Hospital in 2003 and then moved to the Fertility Centers of New England where I worked up to Andrology Supervisor, and then IVF Laboratory supervisor. In 2011 I passed the ABB test for Technical Supervisor. I have been a part of over 10 ASRM abstracts including an oral presentation and an abstract at ALPHA in 2010 in Budapest. My research was published in ALPHA Scientists in Reproductive Medicine and OBGYN News. For FCNE I wrote many blogs for the company website and gave some presentations to the staff on multiple subjects related to IVF success. For three years I presented to an audience of patients at the annual RESOLVE New England meeting “Journey Through the IVF Lab”. While at CARS/UCONN my research has awarded me a $1000.00 grant from NEFS to present at the 2019 annual meeting, a top prize. Also, I am part of the team whose research poster will be presented at the 2018 Foundation of Reproductive Medicine meeting in New York. My passion for embryology has only grown stronger over the years and I am always looking for ways to improve my skills as well as the lab. My background in food & nutrition has extended into studying the relationship of BMI and IVF success. I believe with my varied experiences and interest in the future of IVF I would be an asset to the NEFS Executive Committee.

SHUNPING WANG, MD
IVF Laboratory Director, Women & Infants Hospital; Associate Professor, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

I have been IVF lab director for more than 10 years. I have been in my current position for a little bit over 3 years. Previously I was the IVF Lab Director and Associate Professor at Department of OB/GYN at University of Colorado (2006-2015) I am certified as a high-complexity clinical laboratory director (HCLD) by ABB.  I have extensive publications including peer-review articles, book chapters, and abstracts.  As an embryologist, I wish to bring my expertise to the Executive Committee and act as an advocate for embryologists.  As the current Vice President of NEFS, I am familiar with the operation of Executive Committee and I am sure I can make significant contributions. 

NEFS BALLOT FOR 2024 ELECTED OFFICERS
 
 
PLEASE CHOOSE ONE CANDIDATE FROM EACH CATEGORY. IF YOU WISH TO "WRITE-IN" A CANDIDATE (MUST BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER), PLEASE CHOOSE THE "OTHER" BUTTON AND TYPE IN THE CANDIDATE'S NAME. THANK YOU.

PRESIDENT-ELECT:

The President-Elect will serve a one-year term as President-Elect and ultimately will succeed to President the following term and then sit for one year as the outgoing President. This is a three-year responsibility (2024-26). The Responsibilities of President-Elect are to learn about all the responsibilities of the President and society. Other responsbilities include serving as the Academic Chair for the Annual Meeting that falls in the year that the President is active (2024).

CYNTHIA HUDSON
MAY-TAL SAUERBRAUN-CUTLER, MD
Other

The MASSACHUSETTS Member-at-Large will serve a 2-year term (2024-25) beginning on JANUARY 17, 2024 with the announcement of the newly elected committee. 
ROBERT OATES, MD
CHRISTINE SULLIVAN
Other

The MAINE Member-at-Large will serve a 2-year term (2024-25) beginning on JANUARY 17, 2024 with the announcement of the newly elected committee. 
JANENE OLEAGA, JD
Other

The VERMONT Member-at-Large will serve a 2-year term (2024-25) beginning on JANUARY 17, 2024 with the announcement of the newly elected committee. 
JENNIFER BROWN, MD
Other

The EMBRYOLOGY Member-at-Large will serve a 1-year term (2024) beginning on JANUARY 17, 2024 with the announcement of the newly elected committee. 

JAY PATEL
PAM YEADON
Other

The LEGAL Member-at-Large will serve a 1-year term (2024) beginning on JANUARY 17, 2024 with the announcement of the newly elected committee. 

The Behavioral/Mental Health Member-at-Large will serve a 1-year term (2024) beginning on JANUARY 17, 2024 with the announcement of the newly elected committee. 
ELENA CLAMEN
Other

The NURSING Member-at-Large will serve a 1-year term (2024) beginning on JANUARY 12, 2024 with the announcement of the newly elected committee. 
KATY SULLIVAN, RN
Other

The INDUSTRY Member-at-Large will serve a 1-year term (2024) beginning on JANUARY 17, 2024 with the announcement of the newly elected committee. 
KIM MAHONEY
Other

The ADVOCACY Member-at-Large will serve a 1-year term (2024) beginning on JANUARY 17, 2024 with the announcement of the newly elected committee. 
LISA ROSENTHAL
Other

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