Director of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Therapy Unit Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Gynecological Science and Human Reproduction, Section of Maternal and Fetal Medicine University of Padua School of Medicine via Giustiniani N 3, Padua, 35128, Italy Phone: +39-339-8146745 Fax: +39-049-8211842 email: ecosmi@hotmail.com Erich Cosmi was born in Rome, Italy on December 1st, 1973. He entered the school of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy in the 1993-1994 academic year, and was graduated on July 13th, 1999 summa with Laude, discussing his scientific work entitled: new therapeutical prevention of NRDS by in-utero surfactant administration. During his scholarship, Erich Cosmi was invited for three consecutive periods (1994-1996-1998), each period lasting three months, at the Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut, USA, where he worked with Dr. Gabor Huszar in the Physiology Sperm laboratory and entered in a Research program concerning Reproductive Medicine. During his scholarship in Italy he attended as a student in the following Departments: Department of Anatomy: 1994-1995 Department of Pediatric Surgery: 1996-1997 Department of Anesthesiology: 1997-1998 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology: 1998-1999 After his graduation in Medicine he attended the rotation as a Medical Doctor for 6 months in Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatric and Ob/Gyn, Emergency and intensive Care Unit Departments. In the academic year of 1999-2000 he entered the residency school in Ob/Gyn at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy. In April 2001 he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Virginia University (USA) School of Medicine for 3 years, were he was involved in many research projects in maternal-fetal medicine. From 2001 to 2004 was appointed Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Associate Chief of MFM at the University of Sassari School of Medicine (Italy). He is assistant researcher at the Yale University School of medicine, Connecticut, USA. He is supervisor for Fetal Anemia at the University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. From September 1st 2001 he was appointed as Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in University of Sassari School of Medicine, Italy. Till November 2001 he was involved with the residency program development in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Sassari School of Medicine. From November 1st 2004 he was appointed Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in University of Padua School of Medicine. Erich Cosmi is author of 220 publications, with Impact Factor of 135, Citation Index of 324 and H- index of 10. From 2005 is Visiting Professor at the III University of Athens, Greece. From 13/09/05 is Tresourer and Counselor of the Italian Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine. International Member of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2000; Member of The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine from 2005. Honorary Member of The Academy of Medicine of Serbia Montenegro. Expert Referee for ECM in Medicine appointed from 2005 by the Ministry of Health. From 2007 he is listed in the following encyclopedias: Who is Who in the World, Who is Who in Science and Engineering, Who is Who in America. From 2007 he is Director of the prenatal diagnosis and fetal therapy Unit in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Padua University.Read More

FAX: 91-0172-744401,745078 E-mail: medinst@pgi.chd.nic.in Website. http.//pgimer.nic.in (Off.) .745062 Phone: PBX .747585 Ext.5555 Resi. : 746868/746688 POSTGRADUATE INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, CHANDIGARH -160 012 (India) Prof. S.K. Sharma M.S., M.Ch. (Urology), F.A.M.S. Director Dated: 27.11.02 Sub.: Worldwide proficiency of health services in collaboration with United Nations Association of USA (UNA-USA) and WomensHealthSection.Com, and all countries willing to participate in the project. ******* Dear Dr. Luthra, Kindly refer to your communication dated 21st August, 2002 which reached me through Dr. (Mrs.) S. Kataria, Ex-Director General Health Services, UT, Chandigarh with respect to the above mentioned subject. I remember Dr. Kataria having discussed this issue with me last year also but somehow I was not able to write to you. I appreciate WomensHealthSection.com and United Nations Association of USA for their efforts in helping countries and institutions to build a teaching curriculum. We would be very much interested to be a part of this programme and I would wish that sometime when you are in Chandigarh, we could talk over this project along with the Head, Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Psychiatry, PGI. It was pleasure to know that you are ex-postgraduate student of this Institute and it would be our pleasure to associate with you for the betterment of any teaching programme for the Institute. With regards, Yours sincerely, (S.K. Sharma) Dr. Rita Luthra, MD Director, Women’s Health & Education Center, 300 Stafford Street, Suite 265, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104, USA.Read More

Professor and Chairman Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Colorado Health Science Center Denver, Colorado (USA) Dr. Ronald Gibbs has been Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado for over 15 years. He holds the E. Stewart Taylor endowed chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology, which is in honor of the first full-time chairman of the department. Dr. Gibbs received his MD degree at the University of Pennsylvania and was a Resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. After completing military service at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., he joined the faculty at the University of Texas from 1976 to 1989, when he became Chair at CU. Dr. Gibbs is certified in basic obstetrics and gynecology and maternal fetal medicine. Dr. Gibbs is nationally known for his expertise in genital tract infections and high-risk pregnancies. His professional activities include: Dr. Gibbs is currently President of the American Gynecologic and Obstetrical Society, the senior academic organization for the specialty. Former Director and Treasurer of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Former member of the Residency Review Committee Former President of the Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology Former President Colorado Gynecologic and Obstetrical Society Trustee American Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists Foundation Dr. Gibbs is married and has two married children.Read More

I underwent my basic medical training at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, at the time considered to be the leading medical center in Africa. I subsequently rotated through the specialties of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery, Emergency Room, Pediatrics and Internal Medicine. After initial training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Nigeria, I proceeded to the United Kingdom for training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, obtaining Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 1997 Working as Registrar to Professor Stuart Campbell, a pioneer and leading authority in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, I had training in the management of high-risk pregnancies. In my years of training, I have had the opportunity of working closely with such leaders in the field as Anthony Vintzileos, M.D., Yves Ville, M.D., Anthony Scialli, M.D., Stuart Stanton, M.D., Tom Bourne, M.D., Ph.D., John T. Queenan, M.D., John C. Smulian, M.D., and Cande V. Ananth, Ph.D., M.P.H. I have authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading obstetrics and gynecology journals. In addition, I have contributed seven chapters in major maternal-fetal medicine, obstetrics and ultrasound textbooks. I am a referee and reviewer for seven leading journals in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Imaging. I have been ranked by Obstetrics & Gynecology, the most prestigious journal in the field, with a circulation in excess of 46,000 and an impact factor of 3.512, among the top 10% of reviewers for the journal. I am also rated among the top 5% of reviewers for Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, considered the most respected journal in obstetrical and gynecological imaging. My work has been cited in virtually every major obstetric text as well as in numerous journal articles. My work is also cited in the practice guidelines of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the official educational guide (Prolog) in Obstetrics of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. I was invited to write editorials for Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology and American Family Physician (readership in excess of 190,000). I have had front cover articles in two of the leading journals. I have been interviewed for numerous newspaper articles (Dallas Home News, The Greenville News, the New Jersey Star-Ledger, Pregnancy Today, Boca Raton News, Intellihealth.Com, the Statesman, and Prevention magazine). My primary area of interest is Maternal-Fetal Medicine, with particular interests in abnormalities of the placenta and umbilical cord, prenatal diagnosis, ultrasound, and intrapartum and operative obstetrics. I enjoy teaching medical students and other residents and have been recognized with numerous teaching awards. My research presentations have won the First Prizes at the New Jersey Maternal-Fetal Medicine Society in 2003, 2004, and 2006 as well as the New York Perinatal Society in 2005. As a Chief Resident at Georgetown University Medical Center, I received the First Place award at the Resident Research Day. I have also presented my work at numerous National and International conferences including the World Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, World Congress of Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, the International Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, the Annual Clinical Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Course on Audit. Recently, my focus of research has changed to basic science. In collaboration with Dr Morgan Peltier, PhD, Director of the Perinatal Biology Laboratory at Robert Wood Johnson University Medical School, I am examining the effect of progesterone at a cellular level on the mediators of preterm labor and cervical ripening. The first of these experiments “Effect of progesterone on Nitric oxide production by bacteria-stimulated endocervical and vaginal epithelial cells” and “Effect of experimental preterm premature rupture of the membranes on fetal weight “were presented at the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine 26th Annual Clinical Meeting in Miami, Florida in February 2006. Further experiments are being prepared for publicationRead 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

New York Main Representative at UN for NGO Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) 300 Stafford Street; Suite 265 Springfield, MA 01104 USA Telephone: 413-733-1177 Fax: 413-733-0425 e-mail:jriverawhec@gmail.com Born in Puerto Rico in 1971, Joanne Rivera has resided in New York City since 1990. Mother of 3 children, one boy and two girls, she has dedicated her work to improve maternal and child health. All throughout school and college education at Greenfield Community college and Bay State Mini Medical School in Massachusetts, the emphasis was on: make all efforts to understand different customs and learn to respect the differences. She is bilingual (English and Spanish) and welcomes challenges to resolve conflicts. Her extensive training includes: management, scheduling, money-management, organize and supervise care for the disabled. She has provided care for consumers with severe medical disabilities, hip and knee joint replacements, seizures, cerebral palsy, and incontinence. Her expertise also includes accurate records of medication, progress notes, safety plan and wound care. She has worked for 4 years with Behavioral Health Network and Western Massachusetts Elder Care, Inc. before joining Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC). Joined in 2007 as Office Manager of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) she has worked tirelessly to get various projects and programs of WHEC, in maternal and child health, off the ground. That is how the interest in international project and program development started. As we begin our next chapter of the development of this Global Initiative, we all welcome her in the challenging role of Main NGO Representative of WHEC at the United Nations. Working at WHEC her duties include: coordinating collaboration with a diverse group of professionals from United Nations, intra-country, national, regional and local agencies, universities, schools of public health, community organizations and professional societies. We hope our efforts are helpful in implementing improved and informed care. We hope that our initiatives will provide a useful factual basis for action, for all those working for Safe Motherhood.Read More

Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center Boston, MA (USA) Education: Graduated from Harvard College, 1952-56 Served in United States Navy (Ensign-Lt jg), 1956-58 Boston University School of Medicine, 1958-62 Internship/residency surgery St. Vincent’s Hospital NY, NY, 1962-64 Ob/Gyn residency St. Vincent’s Hospital NY, NY, 1964-68 Experience: Clinical Professor of Ob/Gyn, Tufts University School of Medicine President, Obstetrical Society of Boston, 1999-2000 Chairman, Massachusetts Section ACOG, 1998-2002 Chairman, Department of Ob/Gyn, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boston MA St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center is devoted to women’s health care issues and welcomes projects related to safe motherhood from all over the world. Our residency program has residents from various countries and ethnic backgrounds. Our diversity is our strength.Read More

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 25 August 2005 Dear Dr. Luthra, This is to acknowledge with many thanks the receipt of your letter dated 15 August 2005 with an interesting article on “Safe Motherhood: A Matter of Human Rights and Social Justice”, which we have also forwarded to Ms. Thelma Kay, Chief of Emerging Social Issues Division, for her information. With best regards, Yours Sincerely, David Lazarus Chief United Nations Information ServicesRead More

Given Foundation Professor and Chairman Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology New York Weill Cornell Medical School New York, NY 10021 (USA) Frank A. Chervenak, MD currently serves as the Given Foundation Professor and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief and the Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University with highest distinction, and his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University where he was elected a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Dr. Chervenak served his internship in Internal Medicine at New York Medical College, residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Medical College in St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center and a fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine. He was Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, where he was also Director of Perinatal Research and received the Dr. Solomon Silver Award for application of advances in research to the practice of Clinical Medicine. Dr. Chervenak was appointed Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Obstetric Ultrasound and Ethics at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in 1987. In 1991 he was named Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Director of Obstetrics. In 1992 he was made Full Professor with tenure, in 1998 he was named Vice Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and in 1999 was named Acting Chairman of that department. Dr Chervenak was named Chairman and Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief in 2000. He received his Master in Medical Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 2002. Frank A. Chervenak, MD has published over 200 papers in peer review literature and has co-authored or co-edited 18 textbooks. Research interests include ultrasound and ethics in obstetrics & gynecology and leadership. Dr. Chervenak has served on the Board of Governors of the American Institute in Ultrasound and Medicine and the Society of Perinatal Obstetricians. He has served as President of the International Fetal Medicine in Surgery Society, the New York Perinatal Society and the New York Academy of Medicine Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the New York Obstetrical Society. Currently, Dr. Chervenak serves as President of the International Society of the Fetus as a Patient, President-elect of the World Association of Perinatal Medicine, Vice-president of the International Academy of Perinatal Medicine, and Co-director of The Ian Donald Inter-University School of Medicine and Ultrasound. He serves on the March of Dimes Bioethics Advisory Committee and National Children’s Study Federal Advisory Committee. He received a doctorum honoris causa from the Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary. He is an honorary member of the Italian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barcelona Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Texas Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Medical Science of Croatia.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