Meet theMentors!
Janeane N. Anderson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community and Population Health in the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis, TN. Dr. Anderson completed postdoctoral research fellowships in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and the College of Medicine at UTHSC. She earned a Ph.D. in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and a Master of Public Health degree with an emphasis in health communication from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Dr. Anderson’s research targets the relationship between patient-clinician communication practices and clinical and quality of life outcomes among racialized, marginalized patient populations., Using qualitative and participatory action research methods, she explores barriers and facilitators to patient-clinician communication about sexual health among Black women with breast cancer or vulvovaginal and chronic pelvic pain or Black sexual minority men with elevated risk for contracting HIV to identify actionable mechanisms for achieving patient health goals. Extramural funding from the National Cancer Institute has supported studies that explore patient-clinician communication, treatment adherence, and sexual health challenges among women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Recent funding from the Washington DC Center for AIDS Research supported development of a shared decision-making tool to improve uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Black sexual minority men and from the Tennessee Department of Health to train clinicians in optimal communication practices for PrEP education and counseling. New funding from Gilead Sciences, Inc. will support a large-scale, multimodal investigation of multilevel barriers to healthcare access and utilization among Black women with de novo metastatic breast cancer and those with increased risk for advanced breast disease in the U.S. Mid-South region.
Dr. Anderson’s professional activities also include developing faculty resources and university-level programming to address diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and objectives. Some of her more recent efforts include developing pedagogical resources for UTHSC faculty to implement inclusive learning strategies in clinical learning environments and conducting professional communication workshops for College of Nursing and College of Medicine faculty to improve critical consciousness and communication with diverse students, patients, and community members. Dr. Anderson is frequently invited to give lectures on systems of oppression, patient-centered communication practices, and sensitive and socially relevant topics within U.S. healthcare contexts for national and international organizations, including the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), International Urogynecological Association (IUGA), National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), George Washington University School of Medicine, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Corey R. Babb, DO, FACOOG, IF, MSCP is a board-certified OB/GYN and expert in sexual medicine, menopause management, and vulvovaginal disorders. As the founder and medical director of Haven Center, he provides specialized care for conditions like vaginismus, persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), and hormone-related sexual dysfunction, serving patients locally and internationally. A Fellow of both The American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) and the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), and a Certified Menopause Practitioner, Dr. Babb is a leader in advancing women’s healthcare. He chairs both the Bylaws and Finance Committee for ISSWSH and serves on The Menopause Society’s Scientific Program Committee, and the Vaginitis and Vaginal Microbiome Committee for the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disorders. At Haven Center, he continues to bridge research and patient care, ensuring innovative, evidence-based treatment for those with complex gynecologic and sexual health concerns.
Aleece Fosnight, PA-C (she/her) is a board-certified physician associate and nationally recognized leader in sexual medicine and hormone health. She is the owner, founder, and medical director of the Fosnight Center for Sexual Health in Asheville, North Carolina, where she provides comprehensive, trauma-informed, consent-forward, inclusive care for sexual health concerns across the lifespan.
Aleece is an AASECT-certified sexuality counselor and educator, an ISSWSH Fellow, and a nationally certified menopause practitioner. Her clinical expertise includes sexual medicine, urology, hormone therapy, menopause care, pelvic health, and gender-affirming care. She practices through a weight-inclusive Health at Every Size® (HAES®) framework and integrates evidence-based medicine with biopsychosocial approaches to sexual health. Her work emphasizes equitable, culturally responsive care and reducing barriers to sexual healthcare for historically marginalized and underserved communities.
Passionate about advancing provider education, Aleece developed the PA Sexual Medicine Fellowship, a postgraduate training program designed to expand clinical expertise in sexual health, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming care for physician associates. It is the first year-long fellowship in the United States designed to advance physician associate training and leadership in sexual medicine.
She is also the founder of the Fosnight Institute, where she develops continuing medical education programs in menopause and sexual medicine with an emphasis on inclusive, patient-centered clinical practice. Aleece is a sought-after national speaker and educator and serves in leadership roles within professional organizations dedicated to advancing sexual medicine, promoting health equity, and improving patient-centered care.
Dr. Elisabeth Gordon is a board-certified psychiatrist and certified sex therapist specializing in sexual psychology, sexual medicine, and the intersection between the two. She maintains a New York-based and telehealth private practice that has been exclusively dedicated to sexual health for over a decade, and in which she provides therapy, sex therapy, and medication management for a wide range of sexual health concerns.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Gordon is an educator, speaker, researcher, and writer committed to destigmatizing sexual health and advancing understanding of its essential role in overall well-being and quality of life. She is a frequent commentator on sexual health topics in internationally recognized outlets including The New York Times, CNN, and The Atlantic.
Dr. Gordon earned her undergraduate degree in Behavioral Biology, cum laude, from Johns Hopkins University. She attended medical school at New York University, one of the few institutions offering sexual medicine education at the time and completed her psychiatry residency at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City, where she received specialized training in sex therapy. She subsequently completed certification in Sex Therapy through the NYU School of Medicine Human Sexuality Program and was invited to and served on faculty for that program until the program’s closure.
Dr. Gordon is a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), a member of the Executive Council of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), and a participant in the International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024). She has authored expert opinion pieces and research papers advocating for expanded sexual health education in healthcare, work that has contributed to current international recommendations on medical education. She has also developed sexual medicine and sexual psychology curricula and has taught at more than 20 academic medical centers in the United States and internationally, including NYU, Yale, and Stanford.
Dr. Gordon can be found at PsychandSexMD.com, via email at
Dr. Hague is an obstetrician/gynecologist, teacher, author and speaker. In addition to her role as a physician with Heartland Women's Group in Wichita, Kansas, she started the Women's Sexual Wellness Clinic in 2014 to help women experiencing a variety of sexual problems. She works closely with area health professionals in a holistic approach to care. Dr. Hague is a member of The International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health and is committed to research and collaboration in women's healthcare. As an Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of Ob/Gyn at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, she helps train residents in obstetrics, gynecologic surgery and sexual health and wellness. To help her patients and their partners with improved communication in their intimate life, Dr. Hague and James Smith, along with their spouses, wrote Start Talking: Intimacy (Xulon, 2015). Dr. Hague has spoken to physicians, health care professionals, church groups, and parent groups about a variety of sexual health topics. As Vice Chair for the Kansas section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Hague plays a vital leadership role in her specialty. Dr. Hague is known for her compassionate care, witty humor and commitment to excellence in the treatment of her patients. She resides in Wichita, Kansas with her husband and two children.
Dr. Hartzell is a sex therapist at San Diego Sexual Medicine, working with Dr. Irwin Goldstein to provide comprehensive care for individuals and couples. She earned her doctorate at Indiana University and conducted research at the Kinsey Institute. She has published numerous journal articles and book chapters on sexual health. She was awarded the Emerging Professional Award in 2007, became an ISSWSH Fellow in 2016 and has been a past scientific program chair for both ISSWSH and SSSS conferences. She is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Therapist and Educator Supervisor and teaches at San Diego State University and the University of Michigan.
Erika L. Kelley, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Division of Behavioral Medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and an Associate Professor of Reproductive Biology, and Assistant Professor of both Urology and Psychiatry, at Case Western Reserve University. Her clinical interests focus on the identification and management of perinatal mental health conditions, female sexual dysfunction, and reproductive-trauma-related posttraumatic stress disorder. She serves as a behavioral health provider in the University Hospitals Fertility Clinic, Female Sexual Medicine, and GenderCare teams.
Dr. Kelley is an Associate Editor for Sexual Medicine Reviews, and on the editorial boards for the journals, Menopause: The journal of the Menopause Society, and Psychology of Violence. She was the 2022-2023 chair of the Scientific Development Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Mental Health Professionals Group (MHPG), and is currently chair of the Social Media Committee for the MHPG. She was on the Sexual Dysfunction in the LGBTQIA2+Community/ Transgender Surgery Committee of the 2024 International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM). Her current funded research projects focus on perinatal mental health, reproductive trauma, female sexual dysfunction, and improving health access and outcomes in gender-expansive individuals.
Jeff Kiesner received his Ph.D. from the University of Oregon (USA) and is currently an associate professor of psychology at the University of Padova, Italy. His current research focuses on female sexual health, including genito-pelvic pain conditions (e.g., vulvodynia) and how the menstrual cycle influences changes in sexuality. Before focusing his research, teaching, and community outreach on sexual health, his work focused on menstrual cycle health and social and affective development during adolescence. He is the incoming co-chair of the ISSWSH Scientific Committee and is on the ISSWSH Board of Directors. He is also on the Committee of Psychologists and Psychiatrists for the Società Italiana di Andrologia e Medicina della Sessualità, on the Scientific Committee of the Comitato Vulvodinia e Neuropatia del Pudendo, and an active member of the International Society for Sexual Medicine and the European Society for Sexual Medicine. He is on the Editorial Board of Sexual Medicine Reviews.
Pebble Kranz, MD, FECSM, IF, MSCP, a family physician, menopause medicine, and sexual medicine specialist, graduated from Brown University's Medical School in 2007 and completed residency with the University of Rochester Family Medicine Residency Program in 2011 with a focus on psychosocial aspects of primary care. After serving as residency faculty and a primary care doctor for the University of Rochester, Dr. Kranz pursued additional training in sexual, menopause, and gender medicine, earning fellowships from the European Committee on Sexual Medicine, the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, certification from the Menopause Society as a menopause medicine practitioner, as well as status as an Advanced Practitioner in Optimal Sexual Experiences Group Couples Therapy. She has served on the board of the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer and is a consultant to the University of Rochester’s Pluta Breast Center’s Sexual Wellness Clinic. She is founder and medical director for The Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness, providing comprehensive care for sexual, relational, and gender concerns in Western New York. Dr. Kranz is committed to educating healthcare professionals at all levels and the community on medical care for sexual concerns.
She is the Director of the Encinitas clinic at the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center and the Director of Education, Jandra plays a pivotal role in shaping educational initiatives. She has been invited to speak at international conferences, educating healthcare professionals on the critical importance of pelvic health. Her passion for pelvic health has expanded into her hobbies, most recently in crocheting pelvic health medical models.
Dr. Heather Quaile, (she/her) is a clinical and academic leader and entrepreneur. A double board certified, women’s and gender health nurse practitioner and advanced forensic nurse specializing in human trafficking and female sexual health. Dr. Quaile is also trained and certified as an AASECT sex counselor and sexual assault nurse examiner providing sexual health education, trauma-informed care, and information to patients of all ages. She created and implemented a medical program for emergency stabilization for commercial sexual exploitation of youth in Georgia. Dr. Quaile has been working in all aspects of women’s healthcare for over 22 years caring for women of all ages across the health-illness continuum and recognized the lack of sexual health awareness not just in her community but in its providers as well and founded, developed, and implemented her private practice The Sexual Health Optimization and Wellness (SHOW) Center. Her goal is to help guide patients through their healthcare journey and provide a range of services that address the biopsychosocial aspects of health, wellness, optimization, and sexuality. She is passionate about changing the systems and beliefs that have stigmatized women’s health and female sexuality through a non-judgmental, empathic approach grounded in evidence-based research. She has been a member of The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) since 2015. She gained designation as a Fellow of ISSWSH and is a member of the education committee, website committee, peer reviewer for the Journal of Sexual Medicine, as well as co-chair for the scientific committee. She is Treasurer of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health and is widely published in the field of women’s health, trauma-informed care, and regularly lectures to local and national audiences.
Dr. Sameena Rahman is a board-certified OB/GYN, sexmed gynecologist, founder of the Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics, Clinical Assistant of OBGYN and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and podcast host of Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones. After years of practicing obstetrics and gynecology in a variety of large academic settings and locations, Dr. Rahman opened a practice to focus on her special areas of interest - sexmed gynecology and menopause medicine – and to ensure patients have their best quality of life. She is also an active member of ISSM (International Society for Sexual Medicine). She specializes in a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pelvic pain with pelvic floor therapy and Interventional Pain procedures in her office. For midlife women, Dr. Rahman, is also a specialist in menopause management with the designation of Certified Menopause Physician through the Menopause Society.
Dr. Rahman was raised ‘in the south’ in North Carolina and understands what good ol southern hospitality means. She attended Duke University for her B.S. degree in Biology where she also specialized in Women’s Studies. She then continued in her home state at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her M.D. As women’s health care and women’s issues have always been on the forefront of concerns for her, she moved up north for her residency in Massachusetts in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts.
After completing her residency, Dr. Rahman made her way out west to California where she spent four years on the faculty at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine. While in Los Angeles, she spent a great deal of time on resident and medical student education. Additionally, Dr. Rahman spent her personal time performing medical missions internationally with a variety of international women’s organizations as well as working with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Switzerland.
Obstetrician-Gynecologist | Midlife Women’s Health Specialist | Sexual Medicine & Pelvic Pain Expert
Fellow, International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
Dr. Roberta Renzelli-Cain is a dedicated physician, educator, and advocate with a career spanning clinical care, research, education, and policy reform in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Female Sexual Medicine, Menopause, and Pelvic Pain Disorders. A Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), she serves on its Board of Directors and chairs the Fellowship Committee. She has also been deeply involved in ISSWSH’s Membership Outreach efforts, fostering engagement, mentorship, and professional development—particularly in regions where access to specialized women’s healthcare is limited. Additionally, she has contributed to ISSWSH’s Special Interest Group on Deep Dyspareunia and the Sexual Health Core Curriculum Development Committees.
As a researcher, Dr. Renzelli-Cain has led Phase 2 and Phase 3 FDA trials focused on improving treatments for endometriosis-related pelvic pain, PCOS-related androgen excess, and Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. Her work also explores the effects of hormonal therapy on cardiac perfusion using Magnetic Resonance Imaging, contributing to a deeper understanding of women’s cardiac health.
With 27 years of experience in teaching and mentorship, she has supported the growth of medical students, residents, and fellows in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Sexual Medicine. She has also helped train advanced trainees across allied health fields, including physical and occupational therapy, psychology, social services, nursing, advanced practice providers, and PhD candidates, recognizing the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to patient care.
Committed to expanding access to women’s sexual healthcare, Dr. Renzelli-Cain has worked through direct patient care, research, education, and advocacy to improve healthcare delivery and reduce barriers to care, particularly for underserved communities.
Her commitment to service led to appointments on the West Virginia Women’s Commission and as Medical Director of the State of West Virginia’s Center of Excellence in Women’s Health and Research—one of the original 20 Centers of Excellence funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. During her tenure, she worked to shape healthcare policy and expand services, with a particular focus on improving care for women in Appalachia. By addressing systemic barriers, she has helped bridge healthcare disparities and ensure that women in rural and economically disadvantaged areas receive the care they need.
Dr. Renzelli-Cain has advanced Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health through research, advocacy, and education. She continues to collaborate with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community leaders to create meaningful, lasting improvements in women’s health.
Melissa Lea Rietz, CNP, FNP-BC, CSE, IF is a nurse practitioner, educator, and Director of Clinical Education and Development at Balance Hormone Center, where she leads clinician training and helps shape a more intentional, patient-centered approach to hormone and sexual health care.
With over two decades of experience in women’s health and sexual medicine, Melissa’s work lives at the intersection of endocrinology, sexuality, and the lived experience of women navigating midlife. She is known for helping clinicians move beyond rigid protocols toward a more nuanced, individualized understanding of perimenopause, menopause, and the role of hormones, including testosterone, in women’s health and quality of life.
As a certified sexuality counselor through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, Melissa is deeply committed to advancing the field through education, mentorship, and clinical excellence. She is especially passionate about supporting early-career clinicians in building confidence, strengthening clinical judgment, and learning how to navigate the complexity that defines this work.
Her approach to teaching centers on bridging the gap between evidence and real-world practice, with an emphasis on listening, individualized care, and restoring agency to women navigating midlife health. Through her leadership, mentorship, and clinical work, Melissa continues to advocate for a model of care that honors both science and story.
