Executive Board
Members At Large
Ilana Cass, MD
Member-At-Large
John R. Fischer, MD
Member-At-Large
Ellen M. Hartenbach, MD, FACOG
Member-At-Large
Member-At-Large
Member-At-Large
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Dr. Donna Johnson was born and raised in rural SC. She attended Furman University and received her M.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed her residency and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship at the University of California Dan Diego. Dr. Johnson is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at MUSC. She serves as a board member of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Foundation and AAOGF. Her clinical and basic studies have resulted in the publication of dozens of scientific papers, abstracts and book chapters on topics ranging from severe preeclampsia to immunological disorders that complicate pregnancy. She has won over 20 teaching awards.
Nancy D. Gaba is a graduate of Vassar College. She received her MD degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she also completed her residency. Dr. Gaba is currently the Oscar I. and Mildred S. Dodek and Joan B. and Oscar I. Dodek Jr. Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at GW. She has held many other leadership positions, including Residency Program Director, and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education. She has also been the Division Director for General Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vice Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She currently serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates. Her national roles include service as an ABOG oral examiner, Co-director of APGO’s Capstone Surgical Education Scholars Program. Dr. Gaba is a founding Board member and past President of SASGOG.
Dr. Francis received his Bachelor of Science, cum laude, Biology, at Morehouse
College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1990. He went on to receive his MD from Case
Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio in 1994,
where he also completed his residency in Internal Medicine in 1995. In 1999,
Dr. Francis completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical
College of Georgia and ultimately completed his fellowship in the Department
of Gynecology, Urology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery in 2002 at the Mayo
Clinic Scottsdale, Arizona. He is board certified by Female Pelvic Medicine and
Reconstructive Surgery and the American College of Obstetrics and
Gynecology.
Dr. Francis became an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville
School of Medicine in 2012, where he served as Division Chief and Fellowship
Director for the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health
(Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery). In 2015, Dr.
Francis was promoted to Chairman of the department while continuing to
serve as Division Director and Fellowship Director. In 2019, Dr. Francis
received his M.B.A degree from the University of Louisville, while continuing
to have a busy clinic and serve his department as Chairman. He was also
promoted to Professor the same year. He has professional memberships with
many organizations including the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS,)
the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA,) Society of Gynecologic
Surgeons and the Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology
(CUCOG,) and many more. He also serves on numerous committees including
the Co-Director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Working Group
within the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Board member of the
University Medical Center, member of the AUGS Finance Committee and
Chairman of the Patient Clinical Quality & Safety Committee. He is Co-Editor
for the Journal of Neuromodulation and Editorial Board Member for the
Journal of Gynecologic Surgery. He has numerous peer reviewed publications
and invited national presentations and is recognized for his clinical expertise
and collaborative leadership skills.
Eve Espey, MD MPH is Professor and Chair of the Department of Ob/Gyn and Family Planning fellowship Director at the University of New Mexico. She is past President of the Society of Family Planning and current Chair of the ACOG LARC Work Group as well as President of the Council of University Chairs of OB-GYN. She was instrumental in helping Family Planning achieve ACGME subspecialty status and is a member of the ABOG Complex Family Planning Division. Dr. Espey won the Margaret Sanger Award, 50th anniversary of Planned Parenthood of Rocky Mountains 2014 and the Rashbaum Award for Excellence in Family Planning from Physicians for Reproductive Health in 2013. She gave the ACOG Irvin Cushner Memorial lecture in 2014 and 2017 and addressed the United Nations in 2015 on the topic of intimate partner violence in Native American Women. She was recognized for her lifetime’s work in promoting Family Planning by the Fellowship in Family Planning in 2017; she has won a medical student teaching award every year of her 23 years as faculty in the Department of OB-GYN. As Immediate Past President of the New Mexico Perinatal Collaborative and Chair of the Department of OB-GYN, Dr. Espey is dedicated to improving access to women’s healthcare in New Mexico. She works with medical students, residents, fellows, midwives, nurse practitioners and pharmacists as a colleague and as an educator. She has numerous publications in contraception, abortion and medical education and has presented locally, regionally and nationally on these topics.