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. Helfant, MD
Richard is a well-known cardiologist who in addition to private practice also lead nationally recognized clinical and research programs as the former chairman of cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, chairman of medicine and director of the Philadelphia Heart Institute, and professor of medicine at University of Pennsylvania and UCLA Schools of Medicine. He is author of numerous medical texts, articles, and books including “A Woman’s Guide to Fighting Heart Disease” and “Courageous Confrontations.” Richard has appeared in print and television media as an expert in heart disease including women’s heart health, and has served on medical research review boards for the National Institutes of Health. He received his MD from NYU School of Medicine and trained in cardiology at Harvard Medical School.

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 H. Cravitz, Executive Director
Sharon has worked in the public, private and nonprofit sectors of healthcare for over two decades. Prior to helping found FWW she was executive vice president for a medical technology company. During the peak of national healthcare reform in the early nineties, Sharon was the senior advisor for health and women’s issues to a senior U.S. Senator where she worked to create bipartisan healthcare reform legislation. Her work explaining President Clinton’s proposed health plan in the form of a chart received significant national media attention being called by the press “...the best use of a visual aid..” for depicting complex policy and citing Sharon as “..a [Capitol] Hill celebrity.” Her work is still referenced when national health reform is discussed. During her tenure on the Hill Sharon was named in Who’s Who of Rising Young Americans. She has published articles, appeared on television and spoken extensively throughout her professional capacities. Sharon graduated from Tufts University magna cum laude with a BS in clinical psychology and lives in Denver, Colorado.