Virtual Event

Irene O. Aninye, PhD

Dr. Irene Aninye is the Chief Science Officer at the Society for Women’s Health Research, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving women’s health through science, policy, and education. She steers SWHR’s science programs to increase investment in research on biological sex differences and awareness of health conditions and diseases that differently, disproportionately, or exclusively affect women. Prior to SWHR, Aninye led strategy teams for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to build research capacity and competitiveness and evaluate STEM research and training programs for universities and national consortia. Dr. Aninye’s research background in endocrinology and metabolism investigated sex steroid hormone-receptor action in development, reproduction, and disease. She also brings expertise in facilitating scientific and leadership development training for researchers and professionals across all career stages, and service on advisory boards for organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, National Health Council, and Endocrine Society USA. A Washington, DC, native, Aninye earned her BS in Biochemistry as a Meyerhoff Scholar at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a PhD in Molecular and Integrative Physiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Stacie Bell, PhD

Stacie is a dynamic leader and researcher with 25+ years of diverse experience in biotechnology, academic, nonprofit and pharma in discovery research, drug and device development, scientific strategy, education and patient centricity with a cross functional focus on clinical development and medical affairs. She has been involved with all phases and functional lines of the pre-clinical research and clinical development process in several therapeutic areas, including infectious diseases, immunology, rheumatology, dermatology, and has worked extensively with the FDA, NIH and NHC. Stacie currently leads Lupus Therapeutics, the clinical affiliate of the Lupus Research Alliance and oversees the LuCIN clinical trial network, a variety of partnerships advancing treatment development in lupus, and the patient engagement and health equity functions for the LRA. She has served in several leadership roles including Chief Scientific & Medical Officer for the National Psoriasis Foundation, on numerous boards and committees, consulted for late-stage discovery and clinical development programs in a variety of settings and has been the therapeutic area representative and program lead for her organizations. Stacie received her doctorate in biochemistry from Vanderbilt University and has secondary training in Clinical Pharmacology and Research. Throughout her career she has been dedicated to optimizing treatment options for unmet needs, promoting education, improving access to care, fostering partnership to progress programs and taking innovative approaches for program strategy.

Estela Mata-Carcamo

Estela Mata-Carcamo is a tireless advocate for health equity, leading transformative initiatives at the intersection of healthcare, community engagement, and patient empowerment. As the President and Co-founder of Looms for Lupus, she drives awareness and support for lupus, fibromyalgia, and mental health. Her leadership has positively impacted thousands of patients and caregivers through education, advocacy and support.

Estela engages with the community, empowering patients to use their voices, share their stories, and shape policy decisions. She is also an ambassador of hope and co-founder of Mata Advocacy and Support (MAS), an advocacy consulting firm dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.

With 30 years of healthcare experience, Estela bridges connections between all stakeholders: industry and patients alike. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she collaborates globally with entities such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Estela actively participates in Congresswoman Grace Napolitano’s Mental Health Consortium and serves as Vice-Chair of the Board for the California Chronic Care Coalition.

Lindsey Miltenberger, MA

Miltenberger provides oversight of SWHR’s government relations, communications, and advocacy functions. A member of SWHR’s senior team, she is responsible for helping to drive SWHR’s policy agenda, build relationships with key stakeholders and policymakers, and guide activities to improve women’s health through science, policy, and education.

Previously, Miltenberger served as the assistant director of government affairs for the American Association for Dental Research (AADR), where she was responsible for developing and implementing AADR’s federal policy agenda, spanning federal budget and appropriations issues, international scientific collaboration, scientific workforce matters, and tobacco policy.

Prior to AADR, Miltenberger served as a senior manager for advocacy at AcademyHealth, where she supported efforts to raise the visibility and promote the value of health services and systems research.

Miltenberger received her master’s degree in global communication, with a concentration in public diplomacy, from The George Washington University. She received her ABJ in public relations and her BA in international affairs from the University of Georgia.

JoAnn V. Pinkerton, MD

JoAnn Pinkerton is the Mamie A. Jessup Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division Director of Midlife Health at the University of Virginia, emeritus Executive Director and Past President of The Menopause Society, Certified Menopause Practitioner, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Fellow and past president of the South Atlantic Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

She was recognized in 2021 and 2022 by PubMed as one of the top three in the world for menopause publications. Her awards: 2022 SAAOG Lifetime Achievement, 2019 UVA Master Clinician, Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine, UVA Sharon Hostler 2013 Women in Leadership, BEST DOCTORs, TOP DOCTORS in America, Top 1% by America’s Most Honored Professionals, and American Library Association Award for Understanding Midlife Health. She has 172 peer-reviewed publications, 30 invited papers, 18 invited chapters, principal investigator for over 30 clinical trials, recently for elinzanetant ( NK1, 3) dual neurokinin receptor antagonist for hot flashes.

She is the founder and division director for Midlife Health, which specializes in caring for women 40 and beyond. It offers outstanding, highly rated, evidence-driven expert care, serves as a site for medical and graduate medical education, conducts national clinical research, and is active within the community.