OUR TEAM
Board of Directors
Sorosh Roshan, M.D., MPH, Founding President
Dr. Sorosh Roshan is the founder and president of the International Health Awareness Network. She was an Adjunct Associate Professor at New York University, vice president of the International Council of Women, and President of the National Council of Women/U.S.A. She is also currently the Director Lehman College foundation. Dr. Roshan is one of the most salient voices on women’s health and empowerment advocacy worldwide. IHAN’s mission is to educate, empower and provide health care to socioeconomically underserved women and children
Dr. Gabrielle Casper, President
Professor Gabrielle Casper is a surgical Gynaecologist with over 25 years experience caring for the health of women.
Having worked in Sydney’s lower North Shore for 20 years, Prof Casper is widely respected for her interest in women’s health and human rights including her advocacy work around violence against women.
Prof Casper is currently Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Sydney, University of Notre Dame Australia. She presents at United Nations and WHO meetings on women’s health and human rights including violence against women and passionately continues her advocacy work. Prof. Casper is Past Chairman RANZCOG NSW State Committee and Past Chairman Department Gynaecology Mater Hospital.
Vijaya Melnick, Ph.D., Co-President
Vijaya Melnick is Professor Emeritus of Biological & Environmental Sciences. She also served as Director of the Center for Applied Research and Urban Policy, and as the Director of the Office of Sponsored Research & Programs at the University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC. She is Associate Director, International Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Immunology, Georgetown Univ. Medical Center. She has served on the faculty of Health Care Ethics at Howard Univ. Medical College. She is Co-President of the International Health Awareness Network, a United Nations affiliated organization. She has served as Senior Science Advisor to the Lemelson Center for Inventions & Innovations, National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian Institution, and as Science Advisor and member of faculty of the Einstein Institute for Science, Health and the Courts. She has served as Principal Investigator on several research projects related to the health of women & children including international research & ethics programs. She is the author of a number of research and policy articles and books. She serves on several boards and executive committees of national and international organizations concerned with health and/or education, and she is listed in various Who’s Who publications. She is a biologist and received her Ph.D, and postdoctoral training, from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Suzanne Stutman, Ph.D., Co-Vice President
Dr. Suzanne Stutman is a Professor of English, American Studies, and Women’s Studies at Penn State University’s Abington College. She is the author of five scholarly texts and three books of poetry: Broken Feather: A Journey to Healing, White Feather: A Journey to Peace, and All the Power Rests with You. Dr. Stutman has written poetry on behalf of several organizations, including The International Health Awareness Network, The National Council of Women of the United States, The International Council of Women, Friends of the Children (The Center for Children’s Support), The Philadelphia Children’s Alliance, Women Organized Against Rape, and Heartbeat, South Africa. Her poems have been read and exhibited at the United Nations and at various locations around the world. Dr. Stutman is the Immediate Past President of the National Council of Women of the United States and Vice President of Educational Outreach for the International Health Awareness Network. She is also a past president of The Thomas Wolfe Society. She serves on the advisory boards of the Toni Morrison Society, The Thomas Wolfe Society, and the Survivors’ Art Foundation
Dr. Mahnaz Sarachi, PhD
Dr. Sarachi currently holds the position as Chief, Business Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs,
New Jersey Healthcare System located in East Orange, New Jersey. Dr. Sarachi has held this position for
over 10 years and is a highly qualified, respected and skilled Director in today’s Health Care Industry.
Dr. Sarachi possesses more than 30 years of experience in the field of Revenue Cycle, Managed Care and
Health Information Management.Dr. Sarachi’s knowledge and expertise give her the insight to develop and implement system procedures utilized to establish benchmark standards. This results in the maximization and produced efficiency of the workforce. Dr. Sarachi developed and implemented new strategies to achieve the highest goals in the operation of managed health care. She is a giving mentor who cares about the quality of healthcare our Nations
Veterans received Dr. Sarachi currently hold the position as the Executive Director of International Health Awareness, she has held this position for 30 years.
Beatrice Goodwin, R.N., Ph.D. Board Member
Eliana Horta, R.N., M.S., M.Ph. U.N. Representative
Honorable Zara Nuru, Board Member
Madam Nuru is the Non-Executive Director of the Equity Bank of Tanzania. Ms. Nuru holds a Master of Science in Managerial Economics, Quantitative Methods and Business Administration including Trade and Marketing from Hult University. She is a Policy Advisor for IHAN (International Health Awareness Network) and Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce. Previously she has worked as the Personal Assistant to the President on Diplomatic and International Affairs United Republic of Tanzania; consultant/Advisor of the United Nations Of the Special Advisor on Africa; among other capacities in the United Nations. She has also worked with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania as Permanent Secretary for Health, Community Development, Culture, Women, Youth and sports; Deputy Permanent Secretary and Director of Management Development and Administration and Head of Planning, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare among other capacities
Dr. Melody Behnam, M.D.
Dr. Melody Behnam is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Ridgewood, New Jersey and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Hackensack University Medical Center and St. Joseph's Healthcare System-Paterson. She graduated with honors in 2001 from Ross University School of Medicine and has been in practice over 17 years. Dr. Behnam has been awarded more than 7 times for excellent work in the Obstetrics/Gynecology field. She is one of 165 doctors at Hackensack University Medical Center and one of 57 at St. Joseph's Healthcare System-Paterson who specialize in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Dr. Sulang Rosado, M.D.
Dr Sulang Rosado joins us today from Chambersburg a small town in southeastern PA, where she is a full time practicing OBGYN. She has been with her practice at Summit Women’s group since 2006. A native of Puerto Rico she obtained both her Bachelor’s of Science degree and Medical Degree there. She has been in private Practice for the past 13 years. She completed her Residency in OBGYN at Crozer Chester Medical Center in Upland, PA in 2005.She is a co chair of the youth Committee of IHAN. Committed to better health and education for women and girls. She ’s board certified ob-gyn, mother of an 8-year-old boy, and she has completed 5 Marathons including NYC and Boston.
Dr. Marciana Popescu, Board Member
Dr. Marciana Popescu inspires her students to go beyond studying global issues in the classroom by facilitating real-world exposure. With a Masters in Social Work and a PhD in Sociology, Marciana Popescu tackles social issues at an international and macro level. She works across disciplines to engage students in the complex issues of migration, including policies regarding asylum, resettlement, and protection mechanisms for women refugees. In her work, Dr. Popescu hopes to participate in both current and new innovations that advocate inclusion and redefine “the other” as one of us. Following Fordham’s mission to educate men and women for others, Marciana promotes an agenda of social justice through her International Social Development and Community Building Course within Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service and beyond. Dr. Popescu’s course highlights the theoretical frameworks for international development while also integrating a two-week study tour to various international settings (including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Peru) where students work with local grassroots organizations to develop a practical understanding of what they learn in the classroom. She finds her work rewarding as her students move on to tackle the many complex global issues after graduating that she herself seeks to address. Dr. Popescu looks forward to pioneering classes on international development and migration, exploring and developing safe spaces at a policy and practice level, and inspiring the global change makers and innovators of tomorrow.
Jourdan Sabïla, MA, Director of Global Programs, Policy & Advocacy; United Nations Representative
As IHAN’s Director of Global Programs, Policy & Advocacy, Jourdan works in consultative status with the United Nations on issues of migration, child protection, peacebuilding, and the human right to “the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health”. She has also been appointed to the Executive Committee of NGO/CSW NY and recently served as Vice-Chair of the Working Group on Girls at the UN. An alumna of the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health specializing in trauma and development, Jourdan has supported sociomedical interventions throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, Latin America, and Africa. Prior to her work with the UN, she worked at the US-Mexico border as a child advocate and refugee resettlement caseworker. Jourdan has also spearheaded the design and implementation of numerous community-based programs supporting former child soldiers, survivors of human traficking, children with disabilities, displaced youth, and undocumented persons.
Suad Al Dasuqi, M.B.B.S & D.G.O Member
Dr. Suad Al- Dasuqi is a Consultant, board-certified obstetrician Gynecologist in private practice in Amman Jordan. She has an M.B.B.S & D.G.O ( Doctor of Gynecology & Obstetrics Degree from Cairo University with 30 years of experience in Women’s Health. A well-known obstetrician, in Amman Jordan, with vast international travel with her humanitarian work, as a member of the International Health Awareness Network. Her specialty training includes Infertility, abdominal laparoscopy, and Osteoporosis treatment. She is trained as a medical Ultrasound specialist. Dr. Suad has long experience in traditional as well as conventional methods in healing and treatments for women‘s wellbeing. Her extensive practical knowledge and expertise in the field of energy sciences and natural herbal medicine is unique.
Jaco Hoffman, Ph. D. Board Member
Jaco, a South African, joined the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford in October 2006 and is currently a Senior Research Fellow, developing the Institute’s focus on ageing in Africa through the conduct of research and, with Isabella Aboderin, joint coordination of the African Research on Ageing Network (AFRAN). His research interests revolve around intergenerational issues in Africa in general and in particular the configuration and reconfiguration of these relationships in the context of poverty and HIV/AIDS. This research is funded by James Martin and the Oppenheimer Fund. The African Research on Ageing Network (AFRAN) is a United Nations endorsed program, hosted by the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing. This collaborative network brings together African and international institutions and individuals from academia, policy, and practice to develop and expand African research and training capacity on aging. As Past President of the South African Gerontological Association (SAGA) and Chairperson in the structures of the then National Peace Accord (South Africa), he continues to be involved in various developmental programs and initiatives in the field of aging and reconciliation in South Africa.
Beverly Bartner, Chair Fundraising Committee
Keiko Chevray, Board Member
Keiko Uesawa Chevray served as Director of the Japanese Language Program at Columbia University in New York and full-time Senior Lecturer in Japanese in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Columbia University and has established a Keiko Chevray award for excellence in East Asian languages.
Honorable Yun Sook Lee, Board Member
Hon. Yunsook Lee is the former South Korean Minister of Political Affairs. She has been a member of the National Assembly (ROK) of the Republic of Korea, as well as the Committee of National Defense, and has held many other key positions in the Korean government, including Chairperson of the Special Committee on Women of the National assembly. Mrs. Lee is also the President of the Korea National Council of Women, Advisor to the United Nations Association of Korea, and Delegate to the Fourth United Nations Conference on Women. She is a graduate of Ewha Woman’s University and has been a radio and TV commentator in Korea since 1959.
Partners
The International Council of Women
Project Five-O
Working Group on Girls at the United Nations
NGO CSW/NY
Institute for Women & Girls, Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University
https://www.fordham.edu/info/23861/institute_for_women_and_girls
NGO Committee on Health
https://www.ngohealthcommittee.org/
NGO Committee on Migration
Global Movement for the Culture of Peace
http://cpnn-world.org/learn/globalmovement.html
Peace Action International
Peace Women International
Board of Directors
“We should always have three friends in our lives-one who walks ahead who we look up to and follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journey; and then, one who we reach back for and bring along after we've cleared the way.”
-Michelle Obama
