Meet Our Team

Ashanda Saint Jean, MD
Fellow

Ashanda Saint Jean, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified ob-gyn with extensive experience in New York City where she focuses on providing quality care to underrepresented minority women. Dr. Saint Jean is chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at HealthAlliance of Hudson Valley and medical director of Advanced Ob-Gyn Associates at Westchester Medical Center Health Network. She is committed to women's health issues, racial disparities, health equity and inclusion, maternal health safety and policies, teen pregnancy, and telemedicine in maternal health. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Saint Jean's department developed plans to serve their community during this unprecedented crisis. Her team mobilized outpatient operations, consolidated their ob-gyn outpatient practice, and developed a telemedicine structure that provided improved healthcare access.

Nicole Salva, MD
Fellow

Nicole Salva, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified obstetrician–gynecologist and director of Latina Community Health Services at the Ludmir Center for Women’s Health, where she provides outpatient obstetric and gynecologic care, coverage of labor and delivery, works with residents and midwives, and performs gynecologic surgery with a focus on minimally invasive techniques. She also provides prenatal care for uninsured and undocumented Latinas in a culturally sensitive environment.

Teresa Byrd, MD, MSCI
Fellow

Teresa T. Byrd, MD, MSCI, FACOG, is the director of the obstetrics and gynecology program at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. She received her undergraduate degree in biology and premedicine from Florida A&M University; obtained her medical degree from Meharry Medical College; and completed residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the UTHealth Houston, formerly University of Texas at Houston Health Sciences Center. After residency, she returned to serve on the faculty at Meharry Medical College, where she went on to obtain a master’s degree in clinical investigation. Dr. Byrd also served as associate professor, residency program director, and clerkship director at UTHealth McGovern Medical School.

Jessica Lee, MD, MPH
Young Physician

Jessica K. Lee, MD, MPH, FACOG, is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She is a specialist in complex family planning and believes that all people deserve equitable access to full spectrum reproductive health care.

Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds, MD, MPH, MS
Fellow

Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds, MD, MPH, FACOG, is the inaugural vice president and chief health equity officer for Indiana University Health and the associate dean for health equity research for Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), where she holds an endowed chair for Health Equity Research. Dr. Tucker Edmonds is also an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and clinical pediatrics at IUSM, with training in general obstetrics and gynecology, health services research, public health, and clinical ethics. She studies health equity and shared decision-making in reproductive health care and is interested in understanding the impact of racism, classism, and culture on patient preferences and risk perceptions; physician decision-making and counseling; and, ultimately, variations in treatment provision and service delivery.

La-Tisha Frazier, MD
Junior Fellow

La-Tisha Frazier, MD, received her bachelor’s degree and her master’s of science in nursing from the University of Louisville. She worked as an adult nurse practitioner in her early career, while being a wife and mother of three children. Her passion for providing care to disadvantaged women in the community motivated her to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a physician, and s earned her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine, along with a Distinction in Medical Education certification. She is a third-year obstetrics and gynecology resident at the University of Louisville hospital and is currently applying for a fellowship in maternal–fetal medicine.

Emily Hawes-Van Pelt, MD
Fellow

Emily Hawes-Van Pelt, MD, FACOG, is a full-scope obstetrician–gynecologist and associate managing partner at Women’s Health Consultants and Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She received her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta and trained at the University of Arizona before returning to the Twin Cities. Dr. Hawes-Van Pelt is passionate about working to achieve equity in health care provision and minimizing disparities for marginalized people and people of color. She believes that all patients deserve to be heard, to feel seen, and to receive the very best care.

Rachel Moore, MD
Junior Fellow

Rachel Moore, MD, is a fourth year obstetrics and gynecology resident at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. In her residency program, Dr. Moore serves as chief of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. She obtained her medical doctorate from University of Illinois in Peoria, Illinois. She is a proud native of Denver, Colorado.

Katie Sampene, MD
Young Physician

Katie Sampene, MD, FACOG, is an associate professor in the division of academic specialists of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Her main professional interest is promoting health equity by leveraging quality improvement. She serves as the cochair of the University of Wisconsin department of obstetrics and gynecology Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and is the department’s  director of obstetric quality and safety.

Cornita Cannon
Junior Fellow

Cornita Cannon is a second-year resident in obstetrics and gynecology at University of Missouri – Kansas City. She is originally from Fairview Heights, Illinois, and is very passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion and reproductive justice.

Jason Knight, MD
Young Physician

Jason Knight, MD, FACOG, serves as the director of gynecologic oncology at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. He completed his fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the Cleveland Clinic and his residency at Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He holds medical and undergraduate degrees from Yale University.

Nicole Marshall, MD
Fellow

Nicole Marshall, MD, FACOG, is the division director and an associate professor of maternal–fetal medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. Her research is focused is on the impact of maternal body composition, obesity, and metabolic health on lactation, placental function, fetal growth, and immune system development. In addition to her research work, she practices full-spectrum high-risk obstetric care as a board certified maternal–fetal medicine specialist and has International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants certification. She is a cocreator of the Oregon Health & Science University Health Access, Systems Transformation, and Equity Steering Committee, and was been an inaugural member of the ACOG District VIII Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup, of which she has been a member since 2020.

Deirdre Logan, MD
Fellow

Deirdre Logan, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified obstetrician–gynecologist and assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at University of Southern California (USC) Student Health. Prior to joining USC, Dr. Logan was the chief physician of the obstetrics and gynecology department of Watts Healthcare Corporation, where she also founded and directed a teen clinic.

Claudia López, MD
Fellow

Claudia López, MD, is currently an obstetrician–gynecologist physician at Kaiser Oakland and a 2022–23 patient safety fellow at Kaiser Northern California. She received her bachelor’s of arts in human biology from Stanford University and her medical degree from Oregon Health & Science University, where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and served as the vice president of medical education for the Latino Medical Student Association West. During medical school, her research focused on medical education and underrepresented minority experience in medical school. She did her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of California, Davis, where she served as administrative chief resident. While in residency, her research focused on obstetrical simulation and racial and ethnic trends of obstetrics and gynecology residents.

Ricci Sylla, MD
Young Physician

Ricci Sylla, MD, FACOG, specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. She joined the Sutter East Bay Medical Group in 2010 and is affiliated with Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where she serves as the CME chair. She is currently the chair of ACOG District IX Section 2, which encompasses the Bay Area. She also serves as a member of District IX’s Legislative Committee and the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Rashmi Kudesia, MD
Fellow

Rashmi Kudesia, MD, FACOG, is board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, obstetrics and gynecology, and lifestyle medicine, and has been caring for patients at CCRM Fertility Houston since 2018. She has received multiple awards for clinical care, including being named regularly as a Texas Super Doctor and included in Houstonia magazine and Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors lists.

Andrea Friall, MD
Fellow

Andrea K. Friall, MD, FACOG, is a physician and partner at North Florida Women’s Care and chief medical officer for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. She received her bachelor’s of science in biology from Florida State University and her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine. She completed her obstetrics and gynecology training at Tulane University. As a student, intern, and resident, Dr. Friall distinguished herself as a leader, teacher, and community servant, receiving several awards honoring her stellar performance.

Kiera Parrish, MD
Junior Fellow

Kiera Parrish, MD, is a Junior Fellow is a current resident in north Florida who was born and raised in Miami, Florida. In addition to serving in the DEI delegation , she also serves in District XII Junior Fellow leadership. Dr. Parrish has always had an interest in health equity and looks forward to serving, learning, and teaching as part of ACOG’s DEI delegation.

Dione Occenad-Nimmo, MD
Young Physician

Dione Occenad-Nimmo, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified obstetrician–gynecologist hospitalist in the South Florida area. She currently resides in West Palm Beach, Florida. After attending the University of Miami for an undergraduate degree in nursing, she received a medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine and did residency training at University of Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital. She is married with two beautiful young children. She enjoys learning more about spirituality, spending time with her family, meeting new people, reading, traveling, and running.