Board of Directors

Dr. Lila Nachtigall, MD, Founder, Chairperson

Dr. Lila Nachtigall, MD is one of the world’s leading reproductive endocrinologists, widely recognized for her expertise in menopause and female hormones. Lila is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University School of Medicine and in private practice in New York City for four decades. She pioneered medical research on hormone therapy, estrogen and menopause beginning in the 1970’s and has authored over 500 journal articles and three books on the subject. Lila is frequently cited by the world’s leading media sources including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNN, Good Morning America, The Oprah Show and other major print and television media. She has received numerous awards including “Breaking Ground in Women’s Health” by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Best Doctors” in New York magazine, “Patient’s Choice Award” multiple years and “Teacher of the Year” by New York University School of Medicine. She is the past-president of the North American Menopause Society and founder and chairperson of the Foundation for Women’s Wellness. In addition to her full time patient practice, research and teaching she is a sought after speaker internationally concerning menopause and hormone treatment.

Lila is a graduate of NYU Medical School where she specialized in reproductive endocrinology within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She resides in New York City with her husband Dr. Richard Nachtigall, a physician and professor of clinical medicine at NYU Medical School, and is the mother of three and grandmother of nine.

Lynn R. Zises, MBA, MIA, President

Lynn is the co-founder of WebThriftStore, an online thrift store for donating to nonprofit public charities.  She has worked on Wall Street, in the commercial real estate business and on Capitol Hill.  Lynn has long been involved in women’s causes and is an original Board member of FWW.  She is a graduate of Columbia Business School, Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, and cum laude of Barnard College.  Lynn lives in New York City.

Sharon Helfant Cravitz, Executive Director, Co-Founder, Treasurer

Sharon has worked in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of healthcare for over three decades. Prior to co-founding and directing FWW, she was vice president for a medical technology start-up and legislative aide to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter where she helped draft bipartisan healthcare reform legislation and created a chart explaining President Clinton’s healthcare reform plan which received widespread national media attention as “the best use of a visual aid [to depict complex policy].” Sharon was cited as “a [Capitol] Hill celebrity” by The Washington Times and named a “Rising Young American” by Who’s Who. Her work is still referenced when national health policy is discussed. Sharon is a public speaker and writer on topics related to women’s health. She is a graduate, magna cum laude, of Tufts University and lives in Denver, Colorado.

Joan Dufresne

Joan is a Senior Partner, Group Planning Director at Ogilvy & Mather New York. She is an experienced and award-winning strategic planner who approaches clients’ business objectives from a brand, consumer insight and cultural perspective. Over the past 20 years she has built a strong and eclectic portfolio in financial services, large retail, telecom, consumer healthcare and packaged goods, luxury goods, corporate strategy, online start-ups and the arts. Clients range from Fortune 100 companies to individual artists and entrepreneurs. Joan is a graduate of McGill University and lives in New York City.

Greg Giordano

Greg is a private equity associate at Veritas Capital. Prior to Veritas, Greg worked as an investment banking analyst and associate at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the financial institutions group where he focused on structuring and executing mergers and acquisitions as well as debt and equity capital offerings. Greg holds a B.S. with distinction in policy analysis and management from Cornell University. Greg lives in New York City.

Margaret Nachtigall, MD

Dr. Margaret Nachtigall is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU School of Medicine and is a highly regarded reproductive endocrinologist. She specializes in infertility, PCOS, menopause and hormonal management and has a busy clinical practice in Manhattan. Margaret actively conducts and publishes research and is a founding member of the North American Menopause Society and a Director on the Board of the Foundation for Women’s Wellness. She is a cum laude graduate of Princeton University, NYU Medical School and Yale Medical School.

Richard H. Nachtigall, MD, Medical Advisory Board Representative

Richard is an internist and professor of clinical medicine at NYU Medical School, with training in cardiology and menopause medicine. For over three decades he has held a private practice in NYC and is the medical director of PepsiCo-World Corporation. Richard was the youngest ever appointed professor of medicine at NYU Medical School. He has published, lectured, and consulted extensively in women’s health research, especially concerning health issues arising during menopause. Richard serves in leadership roles for the North American Menopause Society, Foundation for Better Health, and primary care medical education groups. He received his MD from New York Medical College.

Medical Advisory Board

Robert Flaumenhaft, MD, PhD. Chairman, Medical Advisory Board

Rob is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a practicing hematologist with training in hematology / oncology and internal medicine. Rob dedicates the majority of his time to biomedical research where he has won prestigious and highly competitive awards from the National Institutes of Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the American Society of Hematology, the American Heart Association, and pharmaceutical sponsors. He is also an ad hoc reviewer for leading hematology medical journals. Rob’s current research has important implications for women and heart disease. Rob received a PhD and an MD from NYU School of Medicine.

Dr. Lila Nachtigall, MD, Founder, Chairperson

Dr. Lila Nachtigall, MD is one of the world’s leading reproductive endocrinologists, widely recognized for her expertise in menopause and female hormones. Lila is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University School of Medicine and in private practice in New York City for four decades. She pioneered medical research on hormone therapy, estrogen and menopause beginning in the 1970’s and has authored over 500 journal articles and three books on the subject. Lila is frequently cited by the world’s leading media sources including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNN, Good Morning America, The Oprah Show and other major print and television media. She has received numerous awards including “Breaking Ground in Women’s Health” by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Best Doctors” in New York magazine, “Patient’s Choice Award” multiple years and “Teacher of the Year” by New York University School of Medicine. She is the past-president of the North American Menopause Society and founder and chairperson of the Foundation for Women’s Wellness. In addition to her full time patient practice, research and teaching she is a sought after speaker internationally concerning menopause and hormone treatment.

Lila is a graduate of NYU Medical School where she specialized in reproductive endocrinology within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She resides in New York City with her husband Dr. Richard Nachtigall, a physician and professor of clinical medicine at NYU Medical School, and is the mother of three and grandmother of nine.

Richard H. Nachtigall, MD

Richard is an internist and professor of clinical medicine at NYU Medical School, with training in cardiology and menopause medicine. For over three decades he has held a private practice in NYC and is the medical director of PepsiCo-World Corporation. Richard was the youngest ever appointed professor of medicine at NYU Medical School. He has published, lectured, and consulted extensively in women’s health research, especially concerning health issues arising during menopause. Richard serves in leadership roles for the North American Menopause Society, Foundation for Better Health, and primary care medical education groups. He received his MD from New York Medical College.

Sharon Helfant Cravitz, Executive Director, Co-Founder, Treasurer

Sharon has worked in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of healthcare for over three decades. Prior to co-founding and directing FWW, she was vice president for a medical technology start-up and legislative aide to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter where she helped draft bipartisan healthcare reform legislation and created a chart explaining President Clinton’s healthcare reform plan which received widespread national media attention as “the best use of a visual aid [to depict complex policy].” Sharon was cited as “a [Capitol] Hill celebrity” by The Washington Times and named a “Rising Young American” by Who’s Who. Her work is still referenced when national health policy is discussed. Sharon is a public speaker and writer on topics related to women’s health. She is a graduate, magna cum laude, of Tufts University and lives in Denver, Colorado.