Dr. John J. Sciarra, MD, Ph D Thomas J. Watkins Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Chicago, Illinois (USA) John J. Sciarra, MD, Ph D, has served as the Thomas J. Watkins Professor and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Northwestern University Medical School since 1974. He was also chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at both Northwestern University and at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital from 1974 to 2003. From 1991 to 1994, Dr. Sciarra served as president of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), an association representing over 100 member countries. As president, Dr. Sciarra worked on behalf of FIGO’s efforts to further maternal and child health worldwide. Dr. Sciarra was the president of the International Association of Supporters of FIGO (SOFIGO), a fund-raising arm of FIGO; he was chairman of the Scientific Program Committee for the FIGO XVth World Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology that was held in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1997, and was on the Scientific Program Committee for the FIGO XVIth World Congress held in Washington DC in 2000. His other international positions have included serving as both a member and chairman of the Scientific and Ethical Review Group of the World Health Organization (WHO) Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. He also served as chairman of the External Advisory Board for the Carnegie Corporation Project for post-graduate training in obstetrics and gynecology in Ghana, West Africa. He is a past president of the International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (ISGE). He is the present treasurer of the new Society of Family Planning. In 1992, Dr. Sciarra was awarded an honorary degree in surgery and medicine from the University of Genoa. Dr. Sciarra has been awarded honorary memberships in the Italian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Israeli Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Hungarian Society of Gynecologists, the Polish Gynecological Society, the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Italian Hospitals and the Russian Association of Gynecological Oncology. He was also admitted to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (London) as a Fellow ad eudem in 1992. Dr. Sciarra has been a frequent guest speaker at international meetings, often speaking on reproductive health issues. In recent years, he has served as chairman of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on International Affairs, president of the American Association of Maternal and Neonatal Health, Secretary/Treasurer and President of the APGO Medical Education Foundation, president of the Chicago Gynecological Society, a member of the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and president of the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Since 1973, Dr. Sciarra has served as editor of the six-volume series, Gynecology and Obstetrics that is now on a single CD-Rom and updated yearly. In 1985, he became editor of the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and has seen the journal gain prominence under his editorial direction. Dr. Sciarra has written more than 100 scientific papers and has authored or edited 16 books in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology, family planning and contraceptive development.Read More
10 October 2007 Dear Dr. Luthra, The UN Chronicle is the flagship quarterly publication of the United Nations Department of Public Information, covering a wide range of information and debate on the global issues of our day, and the UN system response to these challenges. The magazine features interviews, essays and opinions from public figures, independent experts and personalities connected with the Organization and its specialized agencies. It is published in the six official languages of the United Nations and distributed globally in print, in addition to its online presence on the Internet. The next issue of the UN Chronicle will be a special edition focusing on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We are currently seeking contributions in this field. Given your role of leading the Women’s and Education Centre and your expertise on international health and development, we would like to invite you to contribute an article on “Improving Maternal Health through Education.” We would appreciate receiving the article, between 1,000 and 1,500 words, by 23 November in order to be included in the issue. It could be sent to us via email at UN_Chronicle@un.org, along with your photo, in colour, and a brief bio, as well as any photographs or charts that you may wish to provide as illustrations for the article. Kindly be advised that we would also disseminate the article through the UN Chronicle website, at http://www.un.org/chronicle. We look forward to receiving your positive response to our request for contribution to the upcoming edition of the UN Chronicle. Sincerely yours, Yvonne Acosta Chief Academic Partnerships Unit / UN Chronicle Department of Public Information Ms. Rita Luthra President Women’s Health and Education Centre 300 Stafford Street #265 Springfield, MA 01104Read More
Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology Western Clinical School, Nepean Campus, University of Sydney Nepean Hospital, Penrith NSW 2750 Australia Tel.: 61 2 4734 1809 Fax: 61 2 4734 3485 E-mail:hpdietz@bigpond.com Associate Professor Hans Peter Dietz was born in Tuebingen, Germany, in 1963. After Primary and Secondary School he studied Medicine at Heidelberg University, Germany. He graduated in 1988 and obtained an MD at Heidelberg University in 1989. After immigrating to New Zealand in 1990, he arrived in Australia in 1997 and completed his FRANCOG training in 1998 at Royal Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland. Between 1999 and 2002, Dr Dietz undertook Uro/gynaecology subspecialty training in Sydney at Royal Hospital for Women, St Vincent’s Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and obtained a PhD with the University of New South Wales in 2003. Since 2004 he is Associate Professor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Nepean Campus of the Western Clinical School, University of Sydney. He has recently been appointed Editor of the ‘Australian and NZ Continence Journal’ and is member of the Editorial Board of ‘Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology’. He is active in a number of international scientific societies such as ASUM, RANZCOG, IUGA, ISUOG and ICS and a member of the Constitutional Review Committee of the ICS. His current research interests include imaging in Uro/gynaecology, the interaction between soft tissue structures of the pelvic floor and childbirth, and the ethics of professional conduct, in particular as regards the industry- research interface. He is married with two sons and lives in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, Australia.Read More
Dr. James F. Phillips Senior Lecturer Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University 60 Haven Avenue, B-317 New York, NY 10032 email – jfp2113@columbia.edu James F. Phillips is a senior associate in the Population Council’s Policy Research Division. He previously worked in the Population Council’s International Programs Division in Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Thailand. Prior to his work with the Population Council, Phillips held positions in Nigeria with the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNICEF. Dr. Phillips conducts field experiments that measure the demographic role of family planning and child survival programs. He directed Bangladesh’s Matlab Community Health and Family Planning Project which demonstrated the demographic potential of family planning services in that country. The Matlab service model became the basis for national health reform in the 1980s and 1990s. Dr. Phillips is currently working on a collaborative research program with the Ghana Health Service and the Navrongo Health Research Centre. When the Navrongo Experiment established the feasibility of reducing fertility and mortality with community-based health and family planning services in 1999, a national scaling-up initiative, known as the Community-based Health Planning and Services initiative, was launched to extend the Navrongo service model to all 110 Ghanaian districts. Phillips serves as the senior advisor to the Ghana Health Service for this program, where he collaborates on research designed to guide, refine, and evaluate the scaling-up effort. Dr. Phillips is currently collaborating with his Ghanaian colleagues on a program of exchange that will extend health service innovations from Ghana to Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia. In 2005, Dr. Phillips launched a new collaborative venture with the Vietnam Ministry of Health that aims to apply evidence-based planning methods to health reform in that country. Dr. Phillips is a member of several international science advisory boards and has launched scientific research networks on issues related to health sector reform, reproductive health, and demographic research methodology. He holds an M.S. degree in population studies from the University of Hawaii, and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Michigan. Phillips has published books on the evaluation of family planning programs, the demography of South Asia, and population policy in Bangladesh. He has journal publications on the demography of Asia and Africa, health policy, computer science, and other topics.Read More
University of British Columbia, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2H30-4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, (Canada) Tel: +1-604-875-2424 ext 3054 Fax: +1-604-875-2725 E-Mail: pvd@cw.bc.ca Dr. Peter von Dadelszen is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Maternal-Fetal Medicine) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Consultant in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Children’s and Women’s Health Centre of British Columbia (CWHCBC). A New Zealander, he studied medicine at the University of Otago, Dunedin. He completed an intercalated research degree in Anatomy in 1981, his medical degree (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) in 1984, and gained a postgraduate Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1987. He moved to the UK in 1990, to continue his specialty training in obstetrics and gynaecology and undertake a DPhil project with Professor Chris Redman in Oxford. He gained his Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1991 (Fellowship, 2003), and began his DPhil project in 1993, whilst continuing part-time clinical training. With the DPhil bench-work completed in 1996, he moved to Toronto, to undertake subspecialty training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (1996-68), was admitted to Fellowship of the newly amalgamated Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1998. Subsequent to the MFM fellowship, he undertook an additional year of residency training for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (1998-99). His appointment at UBC is that of a clinician-scientist, with 80% protected time for research; his research interests are focussed on the area of pre-eclampsia and pregnancy hypertension, from basic science to clinical epidemiology and health services research. He is currently the President of the North American Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy and Editor (non-Europe) of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Peter is married to Laura Magee, an obstetric and general internist at UBC and CWHCBC. They share the leadership of the pregnancy hypertension research group at UBC. Peter is a CIHR New Investigator and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Senior Scholar. He is currently investigating the mechanisms involved in the development of pre-eclampsia, outcome prediction, a possible disease-modifying therapy, and the impact of introducing standardised care for the hypertensive diseases of pregnancy in the Province of British Columbia. Peter has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers since his appointment to UBC 7 years ago.Read More
Neena M. Gupta 6 Sunrise Lane, Scarsdale, NY 10583 Tel: 914-722-1082 Email: Neena@WomensHealthSection.com PERSONAL Date of Birth: June 1, 1959, India Citizenship: United States of America Married; Two children QUALIFICATIONS Problem solver, highly organized, with strong work ethics and interpersonal skills CURRENT EXPERIENCE NGO Representative of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) Many years of valuable experiences include do-it-all mentality. Hands-on experience in decision-making, financial management, crisis management, project management Active participation in school-related events and support organizations — parent-teacher-association, debate club, varsity tennis club, music/choir, international committee Liaison with several non-profit, multicultural organizations to promote children’s learning, participation, and to increase cultural awareness in the community Organized program events, designed/published brochures, reports Manage Investments & Finances for over 15 years including active Stocks/Options trading Independent travel agent for all business and personal travel arrangements Promoter of good health and nutrition PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Computer Systems 1987-1989: Cross & Brown Company, NY (Affiliate, Metropolitan Life), Director, Data Processing 1985-1987: Watt Industries, Inc., Santa Monica, CA, Systems Coordinator & Technical Support, Special Contribution Award, Information Systems 1982-1985: IBM Corporation, Minneapolis, MN, and IBM United Kingdom Limited, London, UK, Systems Engineer EDUCATION 1982 Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 1984-88 Continuing Systems Education – Took various courses in Operating Systems and Data Base Management Systems at UCLA, Los Angeles, and DBMI, New York LANGUAGES Fluent in English, Hindi INTERESTS Photography, videography, tennis, badminton, table tennis, arts/crafts, painting, cooking, gardening, creative teaching of children, hospitality, travelRead More
United Nations Non Governmental Organization Representative e-mail: Sharon@WomensHealthSection.com Sharon Wallenberg has represented NGOs at the U.N. since 1998. Ms. Wallenberg started as an Alternate Representative for Servas International, an international peace through travel organization. When S.I. Main Rep, Lynne Murguia stepped down, she named Sharon as the new Main Rep. In this capacity Sharon created partnerships with U.N. agencies – UNEP, UNICEF, UNESCO, and with other Peace and Travel NGOs. Ms. Wallenberg was called on to make an intervention at the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Conference in New York in 2000 on behalf of Servas members in Togo, West Africa. In 2001, the Servas International administration changed and U.N. matters were handled first from Samoa, and then from Canada. Ms. Wallenberg was asked to represent United States Servas after impressing the administration by “saving the day” when S.I. was giving a U.N. briefing on ‘Responsible Tourism’. Ms. Wallenberg personally involving Gurt Rosenthal, the Ambassador from Guatemala in sending a replacement Ecotourism expert when the Costa Rican one backed out at the last minute. At that time U. S. Servas was in danger of loosing U.N. affiliation for inactivity. Ms. Wallenberg wrote dozens of articles that were backdated and put on the USS web site, securing its place in the NGO community. In 2004 Ms. Wallenberg gave a presentation at a United Nations World Summit on Peace through Travel in Geneva. As a result of the Geneva Summit, Ms Wallenberg was instrumental in having the ‘Ribbon’ brought to the Persian Gulf. In 2003 Ms. Wallenberg offered to represent an organization of Catholic OBS/GYNs who worked on obstetric fistula. The founder of Mater Care International, Dr. Rob Walley, and Ms. Wallenberg had mutual friends in Long Island. As Main Rep for MCI, she suggested its NGO status be upgraded from DPI to ECOSOC, and began the process. Ms. Wallenberg secured the opportunity for Mater Care to give a presentation in a Mid-Day Workshop at the Annual NGO Conference. While a member of the Mid-Day Workshop Committee, Ms. Wallenberg resolved a potentially explosive situation involving the Committee Co-Chair, and an Israeli and an Arab NGO. At one of the weekly U.N. briefings in New York, Ms. Wallenberg was approached by Isolda Oca, Information Officer, UN DPI to work with The Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) to work on various obstetrical fistulae projects; which WHEC is planning to undertake with various teaching hospitals/universities. Ms. Wallenberg is a native of New York, and also lives in Florida. She has an undergraduate degree in Nutrition and an M.B.A. in Finance. She has her own business in the Health Care field. She has two Daughters, and is expecting her first Grandchild in May 2008. She still writes and publishes articles on SALW / Child Soldiers in national publications as well as articles on Climate Change.Read More
The Journal, WomensHealthSection.com, is the official publication of The Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC), NGO in Special Consultative Status of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The editors / physicians’ board welcome submissions for various sections of the Journal. Authors are encouraged to supply step-by-step photos, a video clip, or both to be posted online with the article. Founded in 2002, the Journal is published in six official languages of the United Nations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The translations, we believe, will increase understanding of the medical literature and help foster networks of health-care providers around the globe. The Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC), addresses through its publications, the most pressing public health concerns of populations around the world. To ensure the widest possible availability of authoritative information and guidance on public health matters, WHEC encourages its translation and adaptation. To compile WHEC Practice Bulletins, the following journals are frequently surveyed. We hope that our efforts contribute to improved and informed care. All contributions, including solicited articles and symposia, are critically reviewed by the editors and invited referees. Reviewers’ comments are provided to authors. The decision of the editors is final. Authors are welcome to suggest the names of individuals they consider qualified to serve as reviewers. All human investigation must be conducted according to the principles expressed in the Declaration of Helsinki. All studies involving animals must state that guidelines for the use and care of laboratory animals of the authors’ institution or the National Research Council or any national law were followed. Acta Obstetrica et Gynecologica Scandinavica American Journal of Cardiology American Journal of Clinical Pathology American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG) American Journal of Psychiatry Annals of Medicine Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology British Medical Journal (BMJ) British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Bulletin of the World Health Organization Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Cancer Circulation Contraception Diabetes ( Journal of the American Diabetes Association) European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology Fertility and Sterility Human Reproduction International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics International Urogynecology Journal Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Journal Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology Journal of Reproductive Medicine Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine Lancet Military Medicine Neurourology Urodynamics New England Journal of Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics United Nations Chronicle UrologyRead More
