Council

Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH, is the George H. Gardner, MD, Professor of Clinical Gynecology and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is also Associate Director for Community Outreach & Engagement at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and founder of the Elevate Lab. A nationally and internationally recognized physician-scientist, Dr. Simon’s work focuses on health equity, implementation science, health services research, community-engaged research, and improving healthcare access for medically underserved populations. She has led numerous NIH-supported research initiatives and has mentored more than 200 students, trainees, and early-career faculty. Dr. Simon was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2021 and the Association of American Physicians in 2022. She previously served on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and continues to contribute to national initiatives advancing women’s health, prevention, and health equity.

William Grobman, MD, MBA is the Liz Lange Chair in Women’s Health and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where he also serves as Associate Dean of Clinical Research. He is Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and holds a senior leadership role at Care New England. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Grobman’s research focuses on predicting and preventing adverse obstetric outcomes, optimizing obstetric health services, and reducing health disparities. He has led numerous NIH- and foundation-funded studies, authored more than 700 peer-reviewed publications, and is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. He is also a Past President of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Barbara A. Goff, MD, is Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Surgeon-in-Chief at UW Medical Center. A nationally recognized gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Goff specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gynecologic cancers, including ovarian, uterine, cervical, and vulvar cancers. Her research has focused extensively on ovarian cancer, particularly early detection, symptom recognition, surgical outcomes, and strategies to improve care for women with gynecologic malignancies. Dr. Goff has held numerous leadership roles within the field, including serving as President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. She is widely published in the medical literature and has contributed to national efforts to advance evidence-based gynecologic cancer care, education, and research. Her work combines clinical expertise, research leadership, and a longstanding commitment to improving outcomes for patients with gynecologic cancers.

Stephanie Teal, MD, MPH, is Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief for University Hospitals and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. She is the Arthur H. Bill Professor and Chair of Reproductive Biology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Dr. Teal is a nationally recognized expert in complex family planning, contraception, adolescent reproductive health, and reproductive health care for women with complex medical conditions. Her research has focused on contraceptive decision-making, pregnancy intentions, adolescent family planning, and improving access to effective contraception. She earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of California, San Diego, and completed fellowship training in Complex Family Planning and an MPH in Epidemiology at Columbia University. She is a past president of the Society of Family Planning and has served in leadership with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Anthony C. Sciscione, DO, is a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist and Managing Partner of the Delaware Center for Maternal & Fetal Medicine of ChristianaCare. He serves as Vice Chair of Education in ChristianaCare’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a nationally recognized leader in maternal-fetal medicine, physician education, and clinical research. Dr. Sciscione completed his OB/GYN residency at ChristianaCare and his fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. He is a Past President of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, textbook chapters, and educational resources. His clinical and research interests include high-risk pregnancy, labor induction, premature rupture of membranes, evidence-based obstetrics, and physician education.

Nazema Y. Siddiqui, MD, MHSc, is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a urogynecologist at Duke University School of Medicine. A clinician-scientist specializing in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, Dr. Siddiqui’s clinical and research interests include pelvic floor disorders, overactive bladder, urgency urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, and the urinary microbiome. She leads the Duke Urogenital Microbiome (Ur-BIOME) Research Program and serves as Duke’s site principal investigator for the NIH-sponsored Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. She also serves as Associate Director of the Duke Microbiome Center. Dr. Siddiqui earned her medical degree from the University of Michigan, completed her OB/GYN residency at MetroHealth/Cleveland Clinic, and completed fellowship training in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at Duke, where she also earned a master’s degree in clinical research. Her research seeks to advance understanding and treatment of bladder and pelvic floor disorders.

Dr. Angeles Alvarez Secord, M.D., M.H.Sc., is a Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Duke University Medical Center. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology with Honors from Carroll College and graduated AOA with Honors from the University of Washington School of Medicine.  She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and her fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Duke University Medical Center.  Upon completing her oncology fellowship in 2001, she accepted a faculty position within the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Duke. Dr. Secord has received awards from Duke University Medical Center, the Mid-Atlantic Gynecologic Oncology Society, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, the Gynecologic Oncology Group, and the Foundation for Women’s Cancer for her research in gynecologic cancers. She is currently the Director of Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Trials, the Associate Director of Clinical Research, Gynecology Oncology, and the Principal Investigator for NRG Oncology at the Duke Cancer Institute. In addition, she has served or currently serves as a member on the NRG Oncology Group Developmental Therapeutics Committee, Ovarian Cancer Committee, and Corpus Committee. She holds the NRG Oncology Investigator & Career Development Committee Chair and GOG Education and Mentoring Chair positions and is dedicated to mentoring future oncology leaders. Dr. Secord has served on the National Cancer Institute Ovarian Cancer Task Force and NASEM Committee on the Assessment of NIH Research on Women’s Health. Dr. Secord’s research interests include development of novel therapeutics and biomarkers in gynecologic cancer, and innovative clinical trial designs. In 2019 she founded the Endometrial Cancer Molecularly Targeted Therapy Consortium which has over 25 member institutions. Dr. Secord has authored more than 260 peer-reviewed articles and has been the recipient of numerous clinical trial and basic research grants.

Irina Burd, MD, PhD is the Sylvan Frieman, MD Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Maryland. Dr. Burd earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University followed by a combined M.D./Ph.D. program at the Rutgers University-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (where she served as an Administrative Chief resident) and performed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Burd was recruited to the University of Maryland from the Johns Hopkins University, where Dr. Burd rose through the ranks from Assistant Professor to Full Professor.

She has published over 200 peer-reviewed research articles, book chapters and reviews, and is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Ikaria Research Award from the Perinatal Research Society, a research award from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology/American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Foundation, the Thomas R. Boggs Jr. Research Award from the Philadelphia Perinatal Society, Passano Foundation Clinician Scientist Award, Society for Reproductive Investigations President’s Achievement Award, and American Society for Reproductive Immunology Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Burd is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigations (Honor Society). She is a recipient of a National Institutes of Health funding since 2009, and served as a Chair of NICHD Study Section “Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Biology” from 2016 to 2021. She is past President of Perinatal Research Society, past President of American Society for Reproductive Immunology and Immediate Past President of the Society for Reproductive Investigation.

As Chair at the University of Maryland, Dr. Burd leads several Maryland-wide and national initiatives aimed at reducing severe maternal morbidity and enhancing maternal-fetal health. She collaborates closely with state agencies, public health stakeholders and academic institutions to implement data-driven strategies, improve access to high-quality perinatal care, and address racial and geographic disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Dr. William H. Catherino is Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. A board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, his research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying uterine fibroid development. He received his MD and PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, completed his OB/GYN residency at Duke University Medical Center, and completed fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility through the NIH and the Combined Federal Fellowship. Dr. Catherino has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed publications and is the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of F&S Science.

Donna D. Johnson, MD, is Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where she holds the Lawrence L. Hester Professorship and the Donna D. Johnson, MD Endowed Chair. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Johnson joined MUSC in 1996 and has longstanding clinical and research interests in high-risk pregnancy, placental growth and development, preeclampsia, prenatal diagnosis, and recurrent pregnancy loss. She earned her medical degree from MUSC after completing her undergraduate studies at Furman University. Dr. Johnson subsequently completed both her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and fellowship training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. She was appointed Chair of MUSC's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2012 and continues to lead the department's clinical, research, and educational programs.