Meet the Mentors

Dr. Sarah Cigna is an academic OBGYN and Sexual Medicine specialist in Washington, DC. She is an Assistant Professor at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences where she provides comprehensive sexual health care and has developed curricula for medical student and resident learners. She currently serves as the Director of the SAGA Center (Sexual Health and Gender Affirmation Center) at GWU, which she founded in October 2022. She is the Program Director of the first Sexual Medicine Fellowship for OBGYN Physicians in the USA. Her academic and research interests include sexual health and vulvovaginal conditions, particularly in the context of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She is determined to improve access to evidence-based and affordable sexual healthcare. Her clinical practice consists primarily of vulvar pain, sexual dysfunction, complex pelvic pain, and vulvar dermatoses. She is an ISSWSH fellow, has served on the ISSWSH education committee since 2020 and has lead multiple ISSWSH projects including creation of the Genitopelvic Pain virtual course and hands on workshop, expansion of the ISSWSH Slide Deck, and has taught at numerous ISSWSH Courses. She has been invited to speak at institutions all over the country regarding Sexual Medicine and aims to translate her clinical practice into a curriculum that can be shared with teaching programs. Dr. Cigna loves to teach above all else; her practice is based around teaching her patients, students, residents, and colleagues to better serve all people.

Nisha McKenzie is a Physician Assistant who has spent her career advancing women’s health and wellness since 2002. She focuses on women’s sexual health and the impact of hormones, driven by the gaps in knowledge she saw within medical education. Nisha is a Menopause Society Certified Provider, AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor, and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health.

She mentors doctors, PAs, and NPs in sexual medicine, menopause, and women’s health, teaches in medical and PA schools, and speaks nationally to help healthcare providers address sexual and hormonal health. Nisha is also the founder and CEO of the Women's+ Health Collective in Grand Rapids, MI, where she leads a mission to offer inclusive, patient-centered care. Her work empowers individuals, especially those marginalized in healthcare, to navigate perimenopause, menopause, and sexuality with confidence.

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.

Dr. Jessica Yih is a dedicated urologist specializing in male and female sexual health, and male infertility. With a rich educational background that spans medicine, mental health, and healthcare management, she brings a unique multidisciplinary approach to her clinical practice and research.

Currently serving as Director of Women's Sexual Health and Male Infertility and Assistant Professor at UC Irvine, Dr. Yih's work focuses on female sexual health including vestibulodynia, pudendal neuralgia, menopause care, and desire, arousal and orgasm disorders. In addition, she treats male patients for sexual health disorders such as erectile dysfunction and male infertility, including oncofertility. Her contributions to teaching specialized surgical techniques such as vasectomy reversal and prosthetic surgery and her commitment to improving patient care especially for women’s sexual health have earned her recognition within the urology community. She serves on several committees with the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) and the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), as well as being an active member of the Society for Male Reproductive Urology (SMRU), American Urological Association (AUA), and the Society of Women in Urology (SWIU).

Dr. Yih earned her B.S. in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Sciences from the University of Michigan, followed by dual M.S. degrees in Medical Sciences and Mental Health from Boston University. She completed her M.D. at Wayne State University School of Medicine and later pursued an M.S. in Healthcare Management from Case Western Reserve University to enhance her leadership and healthcare administration skills. She completed her urology residency at Case Western Cleveland Medical Center and her fellowship training at San Diego Sexual Medicine.

• Internship & Residency: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
• Fellowship: San Diego Sexual Medicine, Alvarado Hospitals

I became an ob/gyn because I will believe in patient-focused care for women across the reproductive life cycle, from adolescence to childbirth and through the menopause transition. My approach to care encourages women to be a part of their own wellness, disease prevention, and recovery. I believe that the integrated model of health care that is available here at Kaiser Permanente is the best way to practice medicine.

My interest involves clinical management of peri and postmenopausal patients. I am certified by the North American Menopause Society. I passionately believe in the importance of educating patients about all the changes they are experiencing and giving them all the best options to achieve their desired quality of life.

My areas of interest are women’s sexual health and associated vulvovaginal disorders. I approach sexual health considering their biological factors along with social and psychological aspects. I take a multidisciplinary approach to address the patient needs and collaborate with our large team of nutritionists, pelvic therapists, and acupuncture specialists.

My goal is to listen to my patients and provide care that is tailored to their specific needs.

My approach in six words: You talk, I listen, we plan.

Roles and Responsibilities

I am the physician site lead at Burke.  I am also the digital technology lead in my department at Burke and the diversity champion for our medical group. In addition, I'm an assistant professor of obstetrics and genecology at Penn State University.

Professional Affiliations

• Certified Practitioner, North American Menopause Society
• Fellow, International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
• Member, International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease
• Fellow, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Awards & Recognition

• Top Doctor, Northern Virginia Magazine, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Top Doctor, Washingtonian Magazine, 2023, 2024
• Penn State College of Medicine Teacher of the Year, 2022

Dr. MacPhedran is an Associate Professor of Reproductive Biology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and an OB/GYN at MetroHealth Medical Center.  She earned her bachelor’s degree, masters of science in Developmental Neurobiology and medical degree from Case Western Reserve University. She completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She is a fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) and is a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Certified Menopause Practitioner (NCMP).  She is active in national organization including being chair of The Menopause Society Education Committee and President-elect for the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH).

Her main clinical interests are in female sexual health and function; while her research interests and publications focus on sexual activity in high risk pregnancies, health disparities in menopause treatment and medical education. She is a journal reviewer for the Journal of Sexual Medicine and Sexual Medicine Reviews.  She has been an invited lecturer to numerous organizations, providing professional presentations on women's sexual dysfunction, menopause and sexual changes, sexual pain and hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

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.

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.

Dr. Lance Frank is a physical therapist that specializes in pelvic floor dysfunction in all gender identities. Shortly after graduating from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Lance opened his practice, Flex PT ATL, in Midtown - the gayborhood of Atlanta. Dr. Lance is one a small group of penis-having therapists that treat pelvic floor disorders, and one of an even smaller group of queer practitioners that work in pelvic health. Being in the LGBTQIA+ community himself, Dr. Lance understands the awkwardness that queer people can feel in doctors offices discussing vulnerable issues surrounding their genitals. He also understands the toxic masculinity culture that makes it difficult for those with penises to discuss pelvic health concerns and sexual dysfunction as well. 

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. 

John Vogel is a private practice interventional pain physician focusing on chronic pelvic and sexual pain.  Dr. Vogel combines his interventional skills with his knowledge and experience in women's health to provide a broad expertise in pelvic and sexual pain. He is board-certified in Pain Medicine, Family Medicine, and Headache and holds certification in pain sonography and menopausal medicine and is an ISSWSH fellow.

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.

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.

Dr. Linda Vignozzi is Associate Professor in Endocrinology at the University of Florence, and deputy Director of the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio". She is Director of Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit of Careggi Hospital in Florence, Italy, an accreditated training center of the European Academy of Andrology, reference regional center for diagnosis and therapy of erectile dysfunction, reference regional center for semen cryopreservation, reference center for management of subjects with gender incongruence (CRIG). She is Vice President of the School of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Florence and General Secretary of the Permanent Conference of the Presidents of the Italian Schools of Medicine and Surgery.

Dr. Vignozzi received her MD and PhD in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at the University of Florence. At the School of Endocrinology and Metabolism - University of Pisa, she received her Postgraduate Specialty Certification in 2011. She is the co-author of over 150 manuscripts, has written several book chapters and invited reviews in the field of male and female sexual and reproductive medicine, hypogonadism and metabolic diseases, male and female genital tract diseases. She has served as a committee member of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, Italy Society of Endocrinology, Italian Society of Obesity, International Society for Sexual Medicine, European Society for Sexual Medicine, and most recently served as Chair of the 2021 ISSWSH Scientific Program Committee.

Ms. Goldstein, a graduate of Brown University, is Sexuality Educator and Clinical Research Manager at San Diego Sexual Medicine, responsible for sexual medicine educational programming and clinical research. She works with the SDSM team to develop clinical research projects, write protocols and oversee clinical trials. She also arranges for training in sexual medicine for medical students, residents, fellows and clinicians from all over the country. She works with regional support groups to provide education to providers, students and the public. In addition, she develops programs for The Institute for Sexual Medicine, a charitable corporation dedicated to research and education in the field. Ms. Goldstein co-authored When Sex Isn’t Good to provide education and empowerment to women with sexual dysfunction. She is managing editor of Sexual Medicine Reviews. She is an associate editor of the Textbook of Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction, and Female Sexual Pain Disorders, and author of multiple peer reviewed papers. In addition to being President of ISSWSH and Industry Relations Chair, she serves on the Educational Projects, Fellowship and Female Sexual Function Committees of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) and on the Scientific Projects Committee of the International Society for Sexual Medicine. She has contributed educational content for multiple societies. She is also a member of the  American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). She is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator and an ACRP Certified Clinical Research Coordinator. Ms. Goldstein received the Distinguished Service Award from ISSWSH in 2017 as well as from SMSNA in 2017.

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.

Heather Howard, PhD, MPH, AASECT-CSC, AASECT-CSE, IF is a board certified sexologist and mind-body health facilitator with a clinical concentration in pelvic, sexual, and chronic pain. She founded the Center for Sexual Health and Rehabilitation to help clients meet their sexual and intimate goals, and developed the Ergœrotics® process to promote comfortable pleasure and create accessible resources for people in all bodies.

In addition to her private practice work, Heather developed a series of educational videos to help patients with chronic health conditions to find comfortable pleasure, as well as a library of ergonomic sexual positions to assist health care providers with making clinical recommendations to patients. She also completed funded research entitled “A Culturally-Informed Educational Program to Promote Sexual Health and Well-Being Among Refugee Women.”

She is co-chair of the Membership Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), Chair and founding member of the Pelvic and Sexual Health Network of Northern California (PASHN), faculty in the Sex Therapy Certificate program at California Institute of Integral Studies, and a CE Provider for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). She is formerly a clinical skills instructor for the Stanford School of Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology Department and for the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, and an adjunct professor of clinical sexology at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).

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.