Staff

Ms. Alevrontas holds a B.S. in Computer Science, Studio Art and Elementary Education from Hunter College. She also holds an M.S. in Early Childhood Elementary Education from Hunter College. She also holds a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Before joining Gynuity, Ms. Alevrontas worked as a graphic design production associate for OnEarth Magazine formally known as the Amicus Journal.

While maintaining an active practice in obstetrics and gynecology, Paul Blumenthal is Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Stanford University. He serves as Director of the Stanford Program for International Reproductive Education and Services (SPIRES) and also the Section of Family Planning Services and Research. Dr. Blumenthal was educated at the University of Illinois-Chicago, and the Chicago Medical School (MD). He did his training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago/Michael Reese Medical Center and at UCLA (MPH). He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Abortion Federation (NAF), and is an advisor to the World Health Organization. Dr. Blumenthal is committed to the development and implementation of innovative approaches to reproductive health issues in both the domestic and international arenas.

Manuel Bousiéguez holds an undergraduate degree in Engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and a MBA from the Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresas in Mexico. Over the past 15 years, he has been involved in consulting work for a number of key organizations conducting research in reproductive and sexual health in Mexico, including Gynuity. Prior to Gynuity, he was a researcher at the Population Council’s Mexico office.

Jill Durocher, a Senior Director at Gynuity Health Projects, oversees the planning and implementation of a large portfolio of work on testing new approaches to deliver more effective care for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in low resource settings. She participates in the design, coordination, and monitoring of field work on the use of promising PPH technologies and new models of care in facilities and community deliveries. She has worked in wide range of countries, including Pakistan, Uganda, and Ecuador, and has a strong track record in facilitating effective dissemination and advocacy of the research with governments, donors, and program agencies. Her specific research interests include identifying innovative ways and practical solutions for improving the diagnosis of PPH and offering more timely care. Prior to joining Gynuity in 2005, she supported research and program activities at the Population Council, including on medical abortion, postabortion care, and safe motherhood. She holds a BA in Anthropology and Spanish from the University of Michigan and completed graduate coursework in participatory development and planning at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Studies.

Ms. Elyukin holds a B.A. in Economics from Tashkent State Institute of Finance in the former Soviet Union. Before joining Gynuity, Ms. Elyukin worked as an office manager for Softlabs, LLC and as a bookkeeper for Fine Art Acrylic, Inc.

Mitra Katz has worked as a finance associate in many non-profits, including a private school and an independent movie theatre, before coming to Gynuity Health Projects as the Finance and Administration Assistant. As well as general bookkeeping she assists with the financial and contractual management of projects and grants. She volunteers in the foster care system as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). She holds a BA in World Arts & Cultures from UCLA and a MA in Humanities & Social Thought from NYU.

Dr. Raymond received her MD degree from Columbia University, completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University, and received a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins. After several years as an epidemiology fellow at the National Institutes of Health, she joined the staff of Family Health International in 1994, where she spent 16 years conducting clinical, behavioral, and programmatic research in contraception and related reproductive health areas. She serves as a consultant or board member for a number of institutions conducting research and advocacy work related to contraception. She has written or coauthored more than 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals. She joined the staff of Gynuity in November 2010.

Wendy Sheldon is a Senior Consulting Associate. She conducts and oversees clinical, social science and implementation research. She has more than 15 years of experience in the global reproductive health movement and her work has spanned a range of topics including abortion, contraception, HIV, postpartum hemorrhage and intimate partner abuse. Before joining Gynuity, Dr. Sheldon worked as Evaluation Specialist at Planned Parenthood Global and as Program Officer for Population at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. She holds a Doctoral degree in Demography and Public Affairs from Princeton University, a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Tamuna Tsereteli coordinates Gynuity's work on medical abortion in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Before joining Gynuity, she worked for Save the Children as a research/clinical manager on a STI/HIV prevention project in Georgia and the John Snow Research and Training Institute as a clinical coordinator for a project focused on strengthening reproductive health in Georgia. She has been an investigator in WHO clinical studies on mifepristone medical abortion and emergency contraception. She holds a Doctoral degree in Reproductive Health from the Scientific Academy of Georgia and a Master of Science in Reproductive Health from the University of Edinburgh. She received her M.D degree from Tbilisi State Medical University. Dr Tsereteli is based in Tbilisi, Georgia and is fluent in Georgian (mother tongue), English and Russian.

Clare Waite oversees Gynuity's communications. She develops and coordinates the dissemination of a broad spectrum of materials related to Gynuity's studies. Prior to joining Gynuity, she worked in a variety of roles for international organizations, including the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), MSI for Reproductive Choices, the Guttmacher Institute, MSI Ethiopia, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Orbis Ethiopia, and Amnesty International. She holds a B.A. hons in modern languages, and has a working knowledge of Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Beverly Winikoff, M.D., M.P.H., President, Gynuity Health Projects. Before beginning work on Gynuity, Dr. Winikoff was employed for 25 years at the Population Council where she was Director for Reproductive Health and a Senior Medical Associate. She developed and managed the Council’s Ebert Program on Critical Issues in Reproductive Health, including work on Safe Motherhood, prevention of STDs/AIDS, prevention of unsafe abortion, provision of safe abortion care, and improving postpartum care for mothers and babies. Prior to joining the Council in 1978, she was Assistant Director for Health Sciences, The Rockefeller Foundation. Her work has focused on issues of reproductive choice, contraception, abortion, and women’s health. Dr. Winikoff graduated from Harvard University magna cum laude, earned her M.D. degree from New York University and her M.P.H. degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. She has served on numerous boards of directors including the Reproductive Health Technologies Project (founding member), Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH, founding member), the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA), the National Abortion Federation, The MediTeam Trust in South Africa, The Society of Family Planning, and Medicines360. Dr. Winikoff received the Carl S. Schultz Award from the American Public Health Association in 2007 and the Irvin M. Cushner Lectureship award from the Association for Reproductive Health Professionals in 2009. Dr. Winikoff is also a Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University in New York.