Under the leadership of the AUGS Board, the six Society councils are dedicated to advancing the Board approved strategic plan and driving the future growth of AUGS. Each council is supported by several committees, each with a unique area of focus. This nimble and effective governance structure supports collaboration across the Society while also ensuring strategic goals are met. Click on the committee name to view the charter which includes purpose, roles, responsibilities, and qualifications.
Board Level Committees
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee acts on behalf of the Board of Directors between meetings, guided by the Board’s known positions. In urgent situations where the Board’s stance is unclear, it may make timely decisions. The Committee also serves as the Board’s personnel committee, conducting the CEO’s annual performance review with input from the full Board.
Members: Tanaz Ferzandi (President), Emily Lukacz (President Elect), Robert Gutman (Vice President), Jerome Yaklic (Treasurer), Jennifer Wu (Immediate Past President)
Awards Committee
The Awards Committee solicits and reviews nominations, evaluates candidates, and recommends / selects award recipients. It also periodically reviews award criteria to ensure a fair process aligned with the Society’s mission.
Members: Marianna Alperin (Director-at-Large), Jennifer Wu (Immediate Past President), Lauren Siff (PFD Week Vice Chair), Gazala Siddiqui (Membership Committee Rep), Charelle Carter-Brooks (DEI Committee Rep), Ingrid Nygaard (Past President)
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee provides oversight of the organization’s financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and risk management. The Committee monitors financial performance, ensures the integrity of financial policies and internal controls, and makes recommendations to the Board to support the Society’s long-term financial health and sustainability.
Members: Jerome Yaklic (Chair/Treasurer), Robert Gutman (Vice President), Heidi Brown (Foundation Council Liaison), Zaid Chaudhry, Geoffrey Towers, Monique Vaughan
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee oversees the Society’s governance framework by reviewing and recommending amendments to policies and bylaws, overseeing the nominations process for elected positions, and monitoring Board composition and effectiveness. It ensures that governance practices support the Society’s mission, legal compliance, and long-term sustainability.
Members: Emily Lukacz (Chair/President Elect), Robert Gutman (Vice President), Jennifer Wu (Immediate Past President), Marianna Alperin, MD (Director at Large), Amy Rosenman (Past President), Stacey Barnes, AUGS CEO (Ex-Officio member)
Education Council
Annual Meeting Program Committee
The Annual Meeting Program Committee maintains and enhances AUGS’ annual meeting, developing programming that highlights the latest scientific, clinical, and surgical advances while maximizing the educational value and overall attendee experience.
Members: Amy Park (Chair), Lauren Siff (Vice Chair), Nathan Kow (Board Liaison), Teni Brown, Catrina Crisp, Gabriela Halder, Sara Houlihan, Robert Kelley, Annetta Madsen, Emily Sandwith, Adrienne Sim, Victoria Pickering, Ushma Patel, Elena Tunitsky-Bitton.
Education Committee
The Education Committee develops and oversees online education, including webinars and other virtual learning opportunities aligned with the Society’s educational strategy.
Members: Taji Yazdany (Chair), Kimia Menhaji (Vice Chair), Nathan Kow (Board Liaison), Sarah Ashmore, Mary Duarte Thibault, Katherine Husk, Colin Johnson, Padma Kandadai, Lauren Rascoff, Christine Vaccaro, Eva Welch
Fellowship Training Committee
The Fellows Training Committee evaluates the educational needs of URPS fellows and fellowship programs and identifies opportunities for AUGS to provide support and education. The Committee also collaborates with certification and education bodies to promote enhanced surgical training and strengthen competencies across fellowships, ensuring alignment with the highest standards of clinical and surgical practice.
Members: John Occhino (Chair), Leslie Rickey (Vice Chair), Nathan Kow (Board Liaison), Lauren Caldwell, Jennie Choi, Christopher Hong, Joseph Kowalski, Pamela Levin, Lioudmila Lipetskaia, Hoa Nguyen, Katie Propst, Kaitlin Renkosiak, Megan Tarr
Advanced Practice Provider Course Planning Committee
The APP Education Committee evaluates the educational needs of advanced practice providers in urogynecology and develops programs and services to address those needs. Advanced practice providers include nurse practitioners, nurses, physical therapists, and physician assistants.
Members: Carissa Aboubakare (Chair), Lisa Hickman (Vice Chair), Nathan Kow (Board Liaison), Jennifer Dillman, Sara Marie Forrest Jaimes, Megan Jasko, Nicole Morris, Diane Newman
CME Committee
The CME Committee ensures AUGS meets and/or exceeds all requirements for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) including review of programming to assure that the educational activities of the Society are developed and offered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the ACCME.
Members: Shilpa Iyer (Chair), Anita Sit (Chair), Nathan Kow (Board Liaison), Heather Barbier, Matthew Karlovsky, Melanie Meister, Prerna Pandya, Mary Rieger, Joy Wheat
Question Writing Committee
The Question Writing Group oversees the writing, reviewing, scoring and distribution of the annual AUGS Self-Assessment Fellows Exam (SAFE) Exam and the Urogynecology Self-Assessment Exam.
Members: Lindsay Turner (Chair), Lauren Giugale (Vice Chair), Nathan Kow (Board Liaison), Peter Aziz, Lauri Budnick, Jenifer Byrnes, Woojin Chong, Jason Cruff, Christina Escobar, Cynthia Hall, Priyanka Kadam Halani, Katherine Husk, Matthew Karlovsky, Lioudmila Lipetskaia, Saya Segal, Stuart Shippey, Ruchira Singh, Eva Welch
Research Council
Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee supports the research component of AUGS’ mission by advising and facilitating the advancement of research through funding, education, and advocacy. The Committee focuses on increasing and maintaining the workforce of the urogynecology physician-scientists and researchers to catalyze the advancement of clinical practice with an end goal of improving care through impactful research. Members of the Scientific Committee represent the various research areas within urogynecology and serve as advocates to advance this mission.
Members: Isuzu Meyer (Chair), Julia Shinnick (Vice Chair), Naz Siddiqui (Board Liaison), Marsha Guess (Basic Science Subcommittee Chair), Milena Weinstein (Grants Review Chair), C. Emi Bretschneider, Stephanie Glass Clark, Julia Geynisman-Tan, Rachel High, Edward Kim, Kate Meriwether, Michael Pezzillo, Abbas Shobeiri, David Sheyn, Amanda White
Basic Science Sub-Committee Members: Marsha Guess (Chair), Robert Kelley (Vice Chair), Amanda Artsen, Lindsay Burnett, Rui Liang, Michael Pezzillo, Alec Szlachta-McGinn, Morgan Watson
Research Grants Committee
The Grants Committee oversees AUGS’ mentored grants program by reviewing applications, selecting awardees, and overseeing the distribution of research funding. Through this work, the Committee fosters the development of early career investigators and supports high-quality research that advances the field of urogynecology.
Members: Milena Weinstein (Chair), Pamela Moalli (Vice Chair), Naz Siddiqui (Board Liaison), Cynthia Fok, Kristen Gerjevic, Rodger Rothenberger, Stephanie Zuo
Practice Management Council
Coding and Reimbursement Committee
The Coding and Reimbursement Committee helps members stay current on coding practices and reimbursement issues. The committee provides practical education, answers coding questions, and advocates for fair physician payment to support both practices and patient access to care.
Members: Jameca Price (Chair), Evelyn Hall (Vice Chair), Matt Barker (Board Liaison), Ashley Carroll, Mary Baker, Cindy Basinkski, Sarah Collins, Rebecca Batalden, Daniel Biller, Emily Davidson, Gnankang Napoe, Fareesa Khan, Jaclyn Muñoz, Mikio Nihira, Olga Ramm, Nemi Shah, Mamta Mamik, Joseph Panza, Stephanie Molden, Marc Toglia (Advisor), Shannon Wallace
Outreach Council
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee represents the needs of AUGS members by overseeing membership structure, benefits, recruitment, and retention. The Committee evaluates member segments, reviews SIG and Life Membership applications, and periodically assesses programs, services, and technology to ensure they enhance the member experience.
Members: Cary Fishburne (Chair), Gazala Siddiqui (Vice Chair), Marcella Willis-Gray (Board Liaison), Ijeoma Agu, Adam Hare, Amie Kawasaki, Haley McEvoy, Simone Reaves, James Ross, Sean Spector
Mentoring Committee
The Mentoring Committee supports the professional growth of AUGS members by fostering meaningful connections across career stages. The Committee designs, implements, and evaluates programs that provide career mentoring for Fellows and physicians within their first 1–8 years post-fellowship, helping them navigate early career challenges and connect with mentors in the field.
Members: Cecile Ferrando (Chair), Mary Ackenbom (Vice Chair), Naz Siddiqui (Board Liaison), Amy Askew, Linda Burkett, Amanda Clark, Ian Fields, Salma Rahimi
Public Education Committee
The Public Education Committee guides AUGS’ outreach to diverse patient populations by promoting awareness of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery and the role of the urogynecologist. The Committee oversees patient education resources, the Voices for PFD website, and media relations to ensure accessible, accurate, and impactful information for patients and physicians.
Members: Lopa Pandya (Chair), Christine Chu (Vice Chair), Marcella Willis-Gray (Board Liaison), Sana Ansari, Leanne Brechtel, Lisa Dabney, Alexandra Dubinskaya, Jessica Hammett, Tsung Muo, Erin Norman, Michele O’Shea, Sarah Rabice, Anna Romanova, Aalekhya Tenali
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
The DEI Committee serves the Society through the creation and identification of opportunities for expanding the conversation regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion within AUGS and amongst its board, committees, and member communities.
Members: Marian Acevedo Alvarez (Chair), Charelle Carter-Brooks (Vice Chair), Nathan Kow (Board Liaison), Surbhi Agrawal, Sarah Boyd, Alexis Griffin Bonhomme, Trieu Do, Amr El Haraki, Caitlyn Painter, Amine Sahmoud
Social Media Committee
The Social Media Committee is charged with assisting staff in the development and execution of strategy for AUGS programs and services, which includes but is not limited to Urogynecology journal, Voices for PFD, and educational programming. Ongoing committee activities include identifying areas of growth and engagement, monitoring social media trends, developing social media resources for members, and maintaining and implementing a social media strategy.
Members: Cassandra Kisby (Chair), Elizabeth Southworth (Vice Chair), Marcella Willis-Gray (Board Liaison), Jocelyn Fitzgerald (Social Media Editor), Vinita Gottipati, Deborah Levy, Shazia Malik, Camelia Malkami, Nabila Noor
Publications Council
Publications Committee
The AUGS Publications Committee provides oversight to the development of clinical publications, including Clinical Guidance Documents, Research Reports, and Practice Advisories. The committee ensures the documents produced by writing groups and other AUGS committees and networks are of high quality, consistent form and content, and accurate terminology to ensure successful publication in Urogynecology and/or on the AUGS website.
Furthermore, the committee represents AUGS in cross society efforts for the development of joint publications as appropriate.
Members: Jerry Lowder (Chair), Sara Cichowski (Vice Chair), Scott Smilen (Board Liaison), Tirsit Asfaw, Olivia Chang, Lauren Cadish, Olivia Cardenas-Trowers, Angela DiCarlo-Meacham, Autumn Edenfield, Cara Grimes, Anne Hardart, Peter Jeppson, Danielle Patterson, Krista Reagan, Jens-Erik Walter, Emily Whitcomb, Will Winkelman
Urogynecology Journal
The Journal Editorial Board oversees the publication of Urogynecology, a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to specialists, physicians and allied health professionals concerned with prevention, diagnosis and treatment of female pelvic floor disorders. Current Editorial Board Members.
Foundation Council
Philanthropy and Development Committee
The Philanthropy and Development Committee ensures that AUGS’ fundraising and development efforts are in concert with the Society’s strategic direction and financial needs. The committee serves as the mechanism by which members are involved in the fundraising process.
Members: Kim Ferrante (Chair), Thythy Pham (Vice Chair), Heidi Brown (Board Liaison), Caroline Cox, Kristin Hung, Mwamba Mvula, Jon Pennycuff, Kristina Warner, Erika Wasenda
Course Directors
Fellows Cadaver/Hands On Course Planning Committee
Members: Peter Jeppson (Chair), Maria Florian-Rodriguez (Co-Chair)
Business Side of Medicine Planning Committee
Members: Mikio Nihira (Chair), Ray Foster (Vice Chair), Tanaz Ferzandi (Board Liaison)
