Focus on Fibroids: What Do Women Need for Better Care?

Sateria Venable

Sateria Venable is the Founder and CEO of The Fibroid Foundation, a global, patient advocacy organization. The Fibroid Foundation develops programming to support its community of over 26,000 women. Ms. Venable began her advocacy efforts in 2007. Since that time, the organization has developed a substantial global network.

Ms. Venable, who holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University, has co-authored several scientific papers on fibroid research. She is the inventor of an undergarment inspired by her journey, which she hopes will transform intimate apparel for all women. A sought-after speaker, she has been featured in print and radio media, and has presented at gynecologic conferences worldwide.

Tanika Gray Valbrun

Tanika Gray Valbrun is an award-winning Journalist and Educator with a passion for women’s health. After her personal struggles with uterine fibroids, Tanika’s passion for women’s health inspired her to, create The White Dress Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing awareness, raising funding and increasing education about the uterine fibroid epidemic.

As the founder of The White Dress Project, Tanika has successfully worked with doctors, health advocates and elected officials in multiple states to get legislation passed declaring July as “Fibroids Awareness Month”. Recognized as a thought leader and patient advocate for uterine health, she has also spoken at various events travelled domestically and internationally.

In September 2017, Tanika’s thought leadership, led to a partnership between, The White Dress Project and The Fibroid Treatment Clinic, to amplify awareness and education about uterine treatment options to women in South Africa. While in South Africa, Tanika participated in multiple media interviews with global media outlets and connected directly with the people of South Africa through special events in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Additionally, working with national health advocates, doctors and Tony-award winning actress, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Tanika produced a stellar movie screening of the Oprah Winfrey produced and Emmy-nominated, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The event highlighted the life of a medical icon, Henrietta Lacks, and brought together community members to amplify the importance of cervical cancer awareness.  Tanika serves as a Community Partner with the United State of Women, a national organization created by former First Lady of The United States, Michelle Obama, for any woman who sees that we need a different America for all women to survive and thrive — and wants to work collectively to achieve it.

In addition to encouraging women to be their own health advocates, Tanika works as a Content Producer for the Cable News Network (CNN), where she has been awarded three coveted Peabody Awards for her contributions in journalism. Tanika works closely with CNN’s 1000 media affiliates and manages multiple projects including national and international newsgathering, and demonstrating strong editorial and legal judgment through investigating, pitching and developing stories to serve all of CNN’s and HLN’s platforms. She is the recipient of Georgia Trend’s and Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 under 40” Awards.

Tanika earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism from Florida International University and University of Maryland with a Certification in Radio and Television.

Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG

Dr. Jessica Shepherd is an OB/GYN and women’s health expert and also the founder of Her Viewpoint, an online women’s health forum that focuses on addressing taboo topics in a comfortable setting. As an OB/GYN, she practices at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

Dr. Shepherd is an engaging and well-known media personality who is seen regularly as an expert on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey, CBS News, and FOX news (NY, LA, Chicago and Dallas).  She has written in various publications including Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Women’s Health Magazine, Women’s Day, Self, Family Circle, Parents, Best Health, Essence, and Healthline.

Her passion for women’s health has allowed her to be an advocate for conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, and health care disparities. In addition to radio programs nationwide such as Doctors Radio, NPR and Tom Joyner, Dr. Shepherd also gives lectures nationally and internationally on health issues.

Erica Marsh, MD, MSCI, FACOG

Dr. Erica E. Marsh is the S. Jan Behrman Collegiate Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Department of OBGYN. She is the Founder and Director of the Women’s Health and Reproductive Disparities Collaborative (onWHARD) and the Director of Community Engagement for the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research at UM.

Dr. Marsh graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and cum laude from Harvard Medical School. She completed her residency at the Integrated OBGYN Residency at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital followed by an REI fellowship at Northwestern University. Dr. Marsh’s research focuses on developing a holistic understanding of fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, and ovarian reserve. Dr. Marsh is a committed community advocate, scientific mentor, and proponent of community-engaged research.

Tammy Boyd, JD, MPH

Tammy Boyd has extensive experience in creating and executing federal legislative policy strategy and facilitating outreach to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Before joining BWHI, Ms. Boyd served as managing partner for TKB Global Strategies LLC/Watts Partners, where she executed government affairs strategies through engagement with the House, Senate, and federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).

Kathryn G. Schubert, MPP, CAE

Kathryn (Katie) Schubert joined the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) as President and CEO in April 2020. Under Katie’s leadership SWHR developed a strategic plan focused on fulfilling the organization’s mission of promoting research on biological sex differences in disease and improving women’s health through science, policy, and education. She previously worked for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), where she served as the organization’s chief advocacy officer, growing SMFM’s role nationally and building its reputation in women’s health.

Katie is a trusted leader and consensus builder among women’s health stakeholders, particularly in the policy arena. She has served in multiple Board roles for nonprofit organizations in the Washington, DC-area, including as Chair of the Board of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance and as advisor to the John E. Lewy Fund for Children’s Health. She is a past president of Women in Government Relations.

Prior to SMFM, Katie served as senior vice president at CRD Associates, where she advised clients — including nonprofit patient advocacy groups, medical professional organizations, and private companies — on government relations and public policy related to health and biomedical research issues, among others. She has also spent time working in key legislative roles on Capitol Hill. She received her BA from Mary Washington College and her Masters of Public Policy from George Washington University. Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three children, and dog George.

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Phone: (202) 496-5004