John Abramson, MD, MS
John Abramson served as a family physician for 22 years and is the author of "Overdosed America: The Broken Promise of American Medicine" … More
Contributors
Health information is created by OBOS in collaboration with topic experts who help write, review and revise content to ensure it is current and evidence-based.
(Are you a contributor who isn’t listed or needs to update information? Submit / update here.)
Janice Acton
Janice Acton lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she has worked for the past 20 years as researcher, evaluator, writer and editor. In … More
Amy Allina
Amy Allina is deputy director of the National Women's Health Network, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that works to improve the … More
Paula Amato, MD
Paula Amato is a reproductive endocrinologist and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University.
Onyekachukwu Iloabachie Anaedozie
Onyekachukwu Iloabachie Anaedozie is a certified public health professional with experience in health policy and program management and development since 2004. She has … More
Jill Arnold
Jill Arnold is a consumer advocate and works as a consultant to Consumer Reports on maternity care topics and cesarean rate reporting in … More
Veronica I. Arreola
Veronica I. Arreola is a professional feminist, writer and mom. She directs the Center for Research on Women and Gender's Women in Science … More
Mary Lou Ballweg
Mary Lou Ballweg is founder, president and executive director of the Endometriosis Association, the first organization in the world devoted to endometriosis. Credited … More
Ellen Barlow
Ellen Barlow is an experienced writer and editor specializing in health, biomedical science, public health and higher education. She is co-author of "Every … More
Shannon Berning
Shannon Berning is executive editor for Wharton Digital Press and books editor for Knowledge@Wharton. She wrote the "Relationships with Women" chapter for the … More
Kelly Blanchard, MSc
Kelly Blanchard is president of Ibis Reproductive Health. Her research has included clinical and social science studies on improving contraception and abortion technologies, … More
Susan Blank, MD, MPH
Susan Blank is an assistant commissioner at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and a medical epidemiologist with the … More
Hanne Blank
Hanne Blank is a historian, writer and activist who works at the intersection of bodies, sex and culture, specializing in the history of … More
Chris Bobel
Chris Bobel is an associate professor of women's studies at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She teaches Feminist Theory, Intro to Women's and … More
Debra Pascali-Bonaro, LCCE, BDT/PDT (DONA)
Debra Pascali Bonaro is a pioneer in reminding humanity that birth can be full of pleasure and delight. Debra has trained thousands of … More
Cathryn E. Brubaker, PhD
Cathryn E. Brubaker holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has taught introductory and gender-based sociology courses at … More
Ellen A. Bruce, JD
Ellen A. Bruce, is director of the Gerontology Institute of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of … More
Andrea J. Buchanan
Andrea J. Buchanan is a New York Times bestselling author whose whose work includes the multimedia young adult novel "Gift," published by Open … More
CaitieCat
CaitieCat is a blogger, poet, queer activist, painter, grandmother, writer, musician, person with chronic pain, polyglot and linguist, and proud Marxist feminist.
Juaquita D. Callaway, MD
Juaquita Callaway is a holistic gynecologist in the metro Atlanta area. She integrates conventional and natural treatment options to provide a comprehensive medical … More
Robyn Churchill, CNM, MSN
Robyn Churchill is a certified nurse midwife and research director at Ariadne Labs and Harvard School of Public Health. Currently, Robyn is working … More
Barbara Collura
Barbara Collura joined RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association in September 2004 as the director of chapter and constituent services. In April 2007, Barbara … More
Katsi Cook
Katsi Cook is an elder Mohawk midwife who works to promote processes of care, both clinical and socio-cultural, that support Native American women … More
Raquel Cool
Raquel is a founding member of We are Egg Donors, an international self-advocacy group for egg providers. Her writing has been featured in … More
Mary E. Costanza, MD
Mary E. Costanza has been promoting women's health issues since 1970. While they have been many good changes, she believes there is still … More
Sarah Cox, CNM, MPH, MSN
Sarah Cox has been working in community and women's health for over 30 years. During those years, she has had the opportunity to … More
Marcy Darnovsky, PhD
Marcy Darnovsky is executive director of the Center for Genetics and Society, a Berkeley, Calif.-based public affairs organization working to encourage responsible uses … More
Sayantani DasGupta, MD, MPH
Originally trained in pediatrics and public health, Sayantani DasGupta is a faculty member at the Master's Program in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University … More
Elizabeth Davis
Elizabeth Davis, a renowned expert on women's issues, has been a midwife, women's health care specialist, educator and consultant for over 30 years. … More
Cheryl de Jong-Lambert
Cheryl de Jong-Lambert is the director for internal communications at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. She lives in Manhattan with … More
Dave deBronkart
Dave deBronkart ("e-Patient Dave"), creator of the patient empowerment mantra "Gimme My Damn Data," is surely the world's best-known advocate for patient data … More
Kristin DeJohn
Kristin DeJohn, an award-winning writer and television producer, has been honored by the American Medical Association and by the Alliance for Women in … More
Bella DePaulo, PhD
Bella DePaulo (Ph.D., Harvard; visiting professor, UC Santa Barbara), an expert on single life, is the author of several books, including "Singled Out: … More
Joan Ditzion
Joan Ditzion is an original founder of the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective and co-author of all nine editions of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” … More
Petra L. Doan, PhD
Petra Doan is a professor of urban and regional planning at Florida State University. In addition to numerous publications on planning in developing … More
Janet Dollin, BSc, MDCM, CCFP, FCFP
Janet Dollin is a community family physician who teaches and practices in Ottawa, Canada. She is the past president of Federation of Medical … More
Leilani Doty, PhD
Leilani Doty is the director of the University of Florida (UF) Cognitive and Memory Disorder Clinics and a UF Department of Neurology faculty … More
Eliza Duggan
Eliza Duggan is a law student at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt). She has a Bachelor of Arts in … More
Kezia L. Ellison
Kezia Ellison is founder and president of Educating Teens, Inc. A non-profit organization, Educating Teens provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS & STI prevention education to … More
Jean Elson, Ph.D.
Jean Elson is senior lecturer emerita, department of sociology, University of New Hampshire. For many years, she taught classes in sociology of gender; … More
Liz Fabel, MPH
Liz Fabel is a Boston-area public health grant writer and business development specialist with over 23 years of experience in global and community … More
Gloria Feldt
Gloria Feldt is renowned activist, speaker and author on women's rights, power and leadership. She is co-founder of Take The Lead (TakeTheLeadWomen.com), a … More
J. Amanda Ferry
A mother, a geek, and a feminist, living outside of Boston.
Barbara Fildes MS, CNM, FACNM
Barbara Fildes practiced midwifery for 30 years in urban, suburban and rural settings. Midwifery was a natural extension of her nursing and advocacy … More
Rebecca Firestone
Rebecca Firestone is a social epidemiologist and evaluator committed to ensuring that women's rights are promoted through effective and evidence-based public health programs … More
June Rogers Flahie, BA, MEd
June Rogers Flahie has been a writer and editor for more than 20 years in Toronto, Canada. She has served in senior editor … More
Anna Forbes, MSS
Anna Forbes, a Washington, D.C.-based writer, organizer, and women's health activist, has worked in HIV/AIDS continuously since 1985. She co-founded the Global Campaign … More
Stacey May Fowles
Stacey May Fowles is a writer and magazine professional living in Toronto. Her first novel, "Be Good," was published by Tightrope Books in … More
Marlene Gerber Fried
Marlene Gerber Fried is a longtime activist and scholar. She was the founding president and is current board member of the National Network … More
Jaclyn Friedman
Jaclyn Friedman is a writer, educator and activist, and editor of "Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without … More
Hilary Gerber, DO
Hilary Gerber is a family practice resident who completed a pre-doctoral research fellowship on labor and delivery interventions. Before medical school, she trained … More
Henci Goer
Henci Goer, award-winning medical writer and internationally known speaker, is an acknowledged expert on evidence-based maternity care. Her first book, "Obstetric Myths Versus … More
Cynthia A. Gómez
Cynthia A. Gómez is founding director of the Health Equity Institute at San Francisco State University, an organization dedicated to innovative community-science partnerships … More
Alan Greene, MD, FAAP
Alan Greene is a practicing pediatrician and a leading voice in children's health and the environment. He is a graduate of Princeton University … More
Marjorie Greenfield, MD
Marjorie Greenfield is author of "The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book" and is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Case Western Reserve University … More
Margaret Morganroth Gullette, PhD
Margaret Morganroth Gullette is a prize-winning writer of nonfiction, and an internationally known age critic, essayist, and activist. Her latest book, "Agewise: Fighting … More
Polly F. Harrison
Polly Harrison has been senior advisor at AVAC since 2009, after 12 years as founder/director of the Alliance for Microbicide Development, a coalition … More
Ted Heck, MCJ
Ted Heck works in HIV prevention at the Virginia Department of Health. Volunteer activities include anti-violence and advocacy work in LGBQ and especially … More
Steph Herold, MPH
Steph Herold is the deputy director of the Sea Change Program, a new non-profit project of the Tides Center. Sea Change is dedicated … More
Katharine Hikel, MD
A lifelong women's health activist, Katharine Hikel (Trina) was schooled at Harvard, at the Women's Health Collective in Berkeley, Calif., and at the … More
Judi Hirshfield-Bartek, R.N., M.S., OCN
Judi Hirshfield-Bartek has been a breast oncology nurse for more than 35 years. She presently works at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in … More
Christine L Hitchcock, PhD
Christine Hitchcock is a research psychologist with interests in risks and public discourse about extended oral contraception; normal menstrual cycle physiology; bone health; … More
Anita P. Hoffer, PhD, EdD
Anita P. Hoffer worked at Harvard Medical School for over 25 years, where she served as an associate professor and director of research … More
Frances K. Howell
Frances K. Howell is the executive director of DES Action USA, where she works to educate, empower and advocate for those exposed to … More
Deborah Issokson, PsyD
Deborah Issokson is a licensed psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health. Since 1993, she has provided psychotherapy for women and their partners as … More
Lisa Jervis
Lisa Jervis is the founding editor and publisher of Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture, the founding board chair of Women in Media … More
Carole Joffe, PhD
Carole Joffe is a professor at the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at … More
Laura Kaplan
Laura Kaplan is a lifelong activist and the author of "The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service." She was a … More
Mara Kardas-Nelson
Mara Kardas-Nelson is a journalist and researcher focusing on health, environment, social justice, development, local culture, and international affairs. Her work has appeared … More
Elizabeth Kavaler, MD
Elizabeth Kavaler is an attending urologist at both Lenox Hill Hospital and New York Presbyterian, director of urogynecology at Lenox Hill Hospital, and … More
Barbara Keddy
Barbara Keddy's research in women's health has a focus on race, age and culture. She has received Canadian national and provincial funding developing … More
Jean Kilbourne
Jean Kilbourne is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on the image of women in advertising and for her critical studies of alcohol … More
Tekoa L. King CNM, MPH
Tekoa L. King is a clinical health sciences professor in the School of Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco. She is … More
Sheryl A. Kingsberg, PhD
Sheryl Kingsberg is the chief of behavioral medicine at MacDonald Women's Hospital/University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Professor in Reproductive Biology and Psychiatry … More
Katy B. Kozhimannil, PhD, MPA
Katy B. Kozhimannil is an assistant professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public … More
Jacqueline Lapidus, MTS
Jacqueline Lapidus, co-editor of "The Widows' Handbook: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Survival" (Kent State University Press 2014), was a consulting editor for … More
Linda Layne
Linda Layne is the mother of two fine sons. Her work includes "Motherhood Lost: A Feminist Account of Pregnancy Loss in America" and … More
Margaret Lazarus
Margaret Lazarus is a documentary film director and producer and and is the executive director of Cambridge Documentary Films. Her films include: "Taking … More
Mary Ann Leeper, PhD
Mary Ann Leeper retired from The Female Health Company in 2013 where she was the senior strategic advisor and president and chief operating … More
Esther Morris Leidolf
Esther Morris Leidolf is the author of "The Missing Vagina Monologue." She is the founder of the the "MRKH Organization" and was the … More
Mitchell Levine, MD
Mitchell Levine is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He received degrees from … More
Hope Lewis
Hope Lewis is faculty director of Global Legal Studies and a founder of the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) … More
Margaret Lock
Margaret Lock is the Marjorie Bronfman Professor Emerita in the Department of Social Studies of Medicine and the Department of Anthropology at McGill … More
Alyson Martin
Alyson Martin is an award-winning journalist, an author, a photographer, and an editor. She is the co-author of "A New Leaf: The End … More
Lydia Mayer, MD, MPH, FACOG
Lydia Mayer is an obstetrician-gynecologist and medical ethicist who practices to serve patients and patients' lives. A thoughtful clinician, her professional skills, interests … More
Elise Miller, MEd
Elise Miller is director of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE), an international partnership established in 2002. CHE strengthens the science … More
Ellen Miller-Mack
Ellen Miller-Mack is a nurse practitioner who provided care to incarcerated women for 10 years, as part of her job at a community … More
Ellen Sullivan Mitchell
Ellen Sullivan Mitchell received her Ph.D. in nursing science from the University of Washington in 1987. As a faculty member at UW, her … More
Margaret F. (Peggy) Moloney, RN, PhD, ANP-CS
Margaret (Peggy) Moloney is an associate professor of nursing at Georgia State University in Atlanta. She currently teaches primarily in the doctoral nursing … More
Rev. Irene Monroe
Irene Monroe is an ordained minister, a motivational speaker, a weekly radio commentator on "All Rev'd Up" on WGBH, a Boston NPR station, … More
Heidi Moore
Heidi Moore is a writer and editor in Chicago who focuses on education, health and sustainability issues. Her writing has appeared in the … More
Sophia Moradian
Sophia Moradian holds dual degrees in international and Middle East studies, with an economics concentration, from Boston College. She is currently a MPhil … More
Cathleen E. Morrow, MD
Cathy is a former midwife and current family physician whose focus is on women's health in her clinical practice and teaching humanism and … More
Christine H. Morton, PhD
Christine Morton is a medical sociologist whose research has focused on women's reproductive experiences, doula care, childbirth education, maternal mortality and morbidity and … More
Shree Mulay
Shree Mulay is associate dean and professor in the Division of Community Health and Humanities in the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. … More
Claire Mysko
Claire Mysko is an award-winning author and an internationally recognized expert on body image, leadership, and media literacy. Her book for girls, "You're … More
Amie Newman
Amie Newman is a writer, editor and global health communicator. In her current role as editor of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation … More
Lisa M. Noguchi, CNM, MSN
Lisa Noguchi is a certified nurse-midwife with over 20 years of experience in women's health research and clinical practice from teens to seniors. … More
Craig Norberg-Bohm
Craig Norberg-Bohm, the coordinator for the Men's Initiative for Jane Doe Inc. (MIJD) since 2002, is also the founder and director of Massachusetts … More
Patricia Owen-Smith, PhD
Patricia Owen-Smith is a professor of psychology and women's studies at Oxford College of Emory University. She is currently serving as chair of … More
William H. Parker, MD
William H. Parker is a clinical professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UCLA School of Medicine and is the … More
Su Penn
Su Penn writes about homeschooling, raising a trans child, polyamory, adoption, sex, and more at her blog. Her article about her youngest child's … More
Yvonne Piper, RN, FNP
Yvonne Piper works as a primary care provider at Lyon-Martin Health Services in San Francisco. She has TA'ed two rounds of UCSF's Coursera … More
Jerilynn C. Prior MD, FRCPC, ABIM, ABEM
Jerilynn Prior is a professor of endocrinology at UBC in Canada. Her work focuses on understanding women's reproduction (adolescence, menarche, menstrual cycles, ovulation, … More
Jenni Grover Prokopy
Jenni Prokopy is founder/editrix of ChronicBabe.com, where she draws on her experience with fibromyalgia and other conditions to teach women to build incredible … More
Dr. Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik
Dr. Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik is a sociologist researcher, licensed marriage & family therapist, and licensed certified social worker, Klawsnik & Klawsnik Associates, Canton, Mass. … More
Nushin Rashidian
Nushin Rashidian is an award-winning Iranian-American journalist. A Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alum, she focuses her reporting on drug policy, aging … More
Jessica H. Retrum
Jessica Retrum is an assistant professor in the department of social work at MSU Denver. She has eight years of clinical experience in … More
Marcie Richardson, MD
Marcie Richardson is an obstetrician-gynecologist who believes the only way that women can really be empowered is to understand and take charge of … More
Gary A. Richwald, MD, MPH
Gary A. Richwald is a communicable and infectious disease expert with training in internal medicine, preventive medicine, epidemiology and women's/reproductive health. A graduate … More
Karin Ringheim, PhD, MPH
Karin Ringheim spent 25 years as a social scientist with international organizations including the World Health Organization, the U.S. Agency for International Development, … More
Judith P. Rooks, CNM, MPH, MS
Judith Rooks is a nurse-midwife, past-president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, epidemiologist with many years' service at the U.S. Centers for Disease … More
Alice Rothchild, MD
Alice Rothchild is a Boston ob-gyn who has been active in the women's movement since the early 1970s, when she worked on the … More
Carol Roye
Carol Roye is the author of "A Woman's Right to Know," a culmination of decades of experience and research into the history and … More
Carolyn M. Sampselle, PhD. RN
Carolyn M. Sampselle is the Carolyne K. Davis Collegiate Professor of Nursing at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. She holds appointments … More
Annie Sartor
Annie Sartor is a core member of Breast Cancer Action's program team and leads BCAction's national campaigns and policy advocacy. Annie's activist background … More
Susan Sered
Susan Sered is a professor of sociology at Suffolk University in Boston. Her publications include "Can't Catch a Break: Gender, Jail, Drugs and … More
Ellen R. Shaffer, PhD
Ellen R. Shaffer is co-director with Joe Brenner of the Center for Policy Analysis, which conducts policy research, analysis and advocacy. The Center … More
Grace Shih, MD, MAS
Grace Shih is an assistant professor at University of Washington in the department of Family Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at … More
Jocelyn Sims
Jocelyn Sims is a Chicago-area communications professional with more than 15 years of diverse writing, editing and communications experience. She has a bachelor's … More
Norman P. Spack, MD
Norman P. Spack is the co-founder of the Gender Management (GeMS) Service at Boston Children's Hospital, the first program in North America to … More
Andy Steiner
Andy Steiner, author of "Spilled Milk: Breastfeeding Adventures and Advice from Less-Than-Perfect Moms" (Rodale 2005), is a freelance writer and editor based in … More
Heather Stephenson
Heather Stephenson was the managing editor of the 2005 edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves," editor of "Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause," and executive editor … More
Evelina Weidman Sterling, PhD, MPH, MCHES
Evelina Weidman Sterling is a public health educator and researcher who focuses primarily on women's health issues, mental health, and chronic diseases. She … More
Naomi E. Stotland, MD
Naomi Stotland is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco. Her primary research area is obesity … More
Ryann Summers
Ryann Summers is a San Francisco-based yoga teacher and writer, with a background in counseling and women's health. She studied clinical psychology and … More
Janelle S. Taylor
Janelle S. Taylor is a professor of anthropology at the University of Washington, in Seattle. Her specialty is medical anthropology, meaning that she … More
Kirsten M.J. Thompson
Kirsten Thompson is a project director at the University of California, San Francisco, Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health. Her goal is to … More
Trisha Torrey
Trisha Torrey is Every Patient's Advocate, an expert in patient empowerment and advocacy. She is the author of four books, including "You Bet … More
Cindy Turner-Maffei, MA, IBCLC, ALC
Cindy Turner-Maffei's life/work has focused on maternal and infant nutrition and wellness. As a lead faculty member of the Healthy Children Project, Inc., … More
Jeane Ungerleider, LICSW, BCD
Jeane Ungerleider has been the director of counseling services at Boston IVF since 1986. She is consultant to individuals and couples on topics … More
Cornelia van der Ziel, MD
Cornelia van der Ziel retired from her practice as an OB/GYN. She worked as an OB/GYN since 1979, first for Kaiser in northern … More
Pamela Vireday, CCE
Pamela Vireday is a teacher, childbirth educator, speaker, freelance writer, and well-rounded mama to four kids. She writes at WellRoundedMama.blogspot.com and Plus-Size-Pregnancy.org, and … More
Robin Wallace, MD, MAS
Robin Wallace is a family physician and family planning specialist in North Texas. She sees herself first and foremost as a patient advocate … More
Marc G. Weisskopf, PhD, ScD
Marc G. Weisskopf is an associate professor of environmental and occupational epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. He received his doctorate … More
Rose Weitz, PhD
Rose Weitz is a sociologist and professor of women and gender studies at Arizona State University. She has published numerous books and articles … More
Tracy A. Weitz, PhD, MPA
Tracy A. Weitz is a researcher and public policy advocate with broad expertise on abortion history, policy and care delivery. She received her … More
Toni Weschler, MPH
Toni Weschler is the author of the groundbreaking bestseller "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," as well as a revolutionary book on reproductive health … More
Carolyn Westhoff, MD
Carolyn Westhoff is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The College of Physicians and Surgeons, and professor of population and family health, … More
Beverly Whipple, PhD, RN, FAAN
Beverly Whipple, a certified sexuality educator, counselor and researcher, is the co?author of the international bestseller "The G Spot and Other Discoveries About … More
Jamia Wilson
Jamia Wilson is a feminist media activist. She is the executive director at Youth Tech Health, after serving as the TED Prize Storyteller. … More
Beverly Winikoff, MD, MPH
Beverly Winikoff is president of Gynuity Health Projects. She is also a professor of clinical population and family health at the Mailman School … More
Karen Anne Wolf
Karen Anne Wolf is a nurse sociologist and nurse practitioner educator living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has worked for more … More
Fred L. Wyand
Fred Wyand has directed ASHA's HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Center since 2003, and has served as editor of HPV News since that … More
Susan Wysocki, WHNP, FAANP
Susan Wysocki is a nationally recognized expert, opinion leader, speaker, writer, and consultant in the field of women's health. She is the president … More
Susan Yanow, MSW
Susan Yanow is a long-time reproductive rights activist and was the founding executive director of the Abortion Access Project. She is currently a … More
Kay Zakariasen
Kay Zakariasen graduated from the University of Minnesota, served in the Peace Corps, came home to work in an inner-city school for 10 … More
Deanna Zandt
Deanna Zandt is a media technologist, co-founder and partner at Lux Digital, and the author of "Share This! How You Will Change the … More
Miriam Zoll
Miriam Zoll is an award-winning writer and the author of the memoir-expose "Cracked Open: Liberty, Fertility and the Pursuit of High-Tech Babies" (Interlink, … More
Diana Zuckerman, PhD
Diana Zuckerman is president of the National Center for Health Research, in Washington, D.C. She is a frequently quoted expert on health and … More
Janna Zwerner, MRC
Janna Zwerner is a nationally renowned disability rights advocate who has worked tirelessly for more than 30 years to promote the independence of … More