Heather C. Guidone is a women's health professional with a dedicated interest in female reproductive issues - specifically Endometriosis - who has been serving the clinical and consumer health industries for nearly two decades.  Continually striving to raise awareness, promote Endometriosis education, advocate for patients and facilitate clinical research, she is also a woman who has experienced Stage IV Endometriosis and infertility. Having battled advanced disease for more than 20 years, she understands all too well the pain, frustration, isolation and missed opportunities that often accompany this insidious disease.  In the mid-1990s, however, she became a CEC success story herself.  After years of debilitating symptoms - including 6 years of infertility, more than 20 surgeries and countless rounds of ineffective medical therapy - she ultimately took her care into her own hands and discovered the path that led her to the CEC.  After undergoing a lengthy LAPEX procedure to successfully remove extensive Endometriosis, she credits Dr. Albee, the CEC team and her predecessor Donna Laux with restoring her health and quality of life – and for her son, a "CEC miracle" born in 1998. 

Heather will guide you through your entire experience with us.  Often, she can be found in the CEC's operating room or in pre- and post-op holding visiting patients and their families, and has dedicated her life’s work to helping all those affected by the disease around the globe.  Her relationships with many of the CEC's patients continue long after their surgeries are completed.  "My wish is for every woman and girl with Endometriosis to be able to make empowered choices about her own care," she says. “I believe no one with this disease should ever have to feel alone or hopeless.”  Heather’s single most important piece of advice for patients with Endometriosis? "You have an absolute right to a high quality of life and to live well in SPITE of this disease. Know that successful treatment options DO exist. Gather all the information you can, then choose your options based on informed decisions."

In addition to her role as the CEC’s Surgical Program Director, she also holds a position on the Executive Board of Directors of the Endometriosis Research Center, an international 501(c)3 non-profit foundation, and serves as a Consultant to many of the world's leading healthcare foundations, biotech, medical device and technology, clinical research, and health care marketing firms.  She has developed and written countless Endometriosis, reproductive and general women’s health education materials in both the consumer-oriented and professional sectors of the women’s health industry, ranging from presentations, continuing medical education (CME) and health practitioner education materials, slide kits and speaker content, marketing materials, newsletters, website content, substantive edits, proof of concept efforts, and book reviews and critiques; to sales sheets, press releases, branding development, monographs, white papers, training materials, investigational case studies and much more.  Ms. Guidone is often sought after by various media sources and advocacy groups for her expertise in reproductive health, Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain conditions, and is also routinely invited by prestigious industry authors to contribute content contributions and forewords in several of their prominent books and publications on Endometriosis and gynecologic surgery.

Her diverse works involve authorship of extensive clinical and consumer materials utilizing peer reviewed sources; routine attendance in the operating room; health coaching; interaction with patient, physician, surgeon, professional and media networks; liaising with industry representatives on various activities and opportunities including research grants and funding, education, and lobbying efforts for awareness; operations consulting; and  much more. She also participates in various global medical symposia, including the World Congresses on Endometriosis, the annual Congress of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (AAGL), the International Symposium on GnRH Analogues and others; networks with industry professionals to establish research projects, product focus studies and clinical trials; and presents frequently as a guest speaker to advocacy groups, health professionals and students. Previously, she was among the nominees considered for appointment to the United States Food & Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation & Research (CDER) Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Board.  She also provides a number of comprehensive services ranging from patient relationship optimization to the development, expansion and enhancement of women’s health programs and services designed to improve delivery of care and provide education to both patients and professionals; plans and supervises industry-related symposia and fundraising events; and much more. 

Ms. Guidone is an active member of various Special Interest Groups on Endometriosis and women’s reproductive health, including those of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and currently heads an initiative for the establishment of multiple Centers of Excellence for the early intervention and treatment of Endometriosis in the global pelvic pain population.  A Health Educator who holds various medical and professional Certifications, including Med-Surg Technology, Anatomy & Physiology, health care Journalism and more from such respected institutions as Rutgers University School of Continuing Education, Sacramento State College of Continuing Education and Columbia University School of Professional Continuing Education, she is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the International PAX Society, the American Medical Writers Association, the World Endometriosis Society and the World Endometriosis Research Foundation, among many other acclaimed professional organizations.  Resources with whom she has worked include the Association of Professors of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Valeo Medical, the Women with Disabilities Task Force, Covidien Corporation, Cytyc Corporation, America Online’s Health division, Comcast Media, Thrive@Health, Health Frontier, New South Wales Endometriosis Association of Australia, the National Women's Health Information Center, Menses United Kingdom, the Equus Sanctuary, Season Magazine, RedBook Magazine, Cosmopolitan  Magazine, Pregnancy Today, Nurses World, What the Health magazine and countless others.  She is also a contributor to the national Examiner in the women’s health division.  She was a guest editor for, and is the co-author of the foreword in, "Coping with Endometriosis" by Glenda Motta, RN, MPH and Robert Phillips, Ph.D. (Avery Publishing).  She is also the author of the foreword and a profiled subject in the best seller "Living well With Endometriosis" by Kerry-Ann Morris (HarperCollins), in which her own works are extensively cited. She also contributed to the best-selling book by leading Endometriosis expert and surgeon, David B. Redwine, MD, "Endometriosis: 100 Questions & Answers" and Dr. Susan Evan’s critically acclaimed “Endometriosis & Other Chronic Pelvic Pain” book, as well as many others.  Her "Letter from Survivors," a poignant insight into the life of the Endometriosis patient, has received international acclaim and been extensively reprinted by innumerable resources, both online and off, and was presented on the steps of the Lincoln Monument in Washington, DC at the country’s first national EndoWalk Event.  Additionally, her work concerning healthcare on the Internet was featured in the book, "Real People, Real Stories: How the Internet is Touching Lives."

She has been included in the 20th edition of "Who’s Who among American Women" and is a former member of OBGYN.net's Women & Patients Advisory Board, as well as the previous Coordinator of OBGYN.net's famed EndoZONE and Endometriosis Pavilion sites. She has also served as a nine-term judge by invitation for the National Health Information Resource Centers celebrated "World Wide Web Health Awards" Program. Ms. Guidone continues to be a featured source for articles and interviews about Endometriosis, including in such publications as the New York Times, among others.  Recently, she was the featured guest in multiple segments on Endometriosis for a popular national radio health program. She has also served as a Clinical Coordinator in conjunction with groundbreaking disease research and confidential studies with leading industry partners, as well as with leading professional organizations including the Association of Reproductive Toxicologists.  She continues her active involvement in, and fostering of, ongoing research efforts ranging from recruitment for clinical trials on proprietary new treatments to coordinating genetic research studies.

She is also very active in patient advocacy and lobbying efforts.  Her important testimony concerning dioxin exposure as it relates to Endometriosis was read before the California State Legislature at the invitation of the general Assembly in support of AB2820, a consequential bill calling for the independent investigation of toxins in feminine hygiene products.  She also co-authored the text contained in various Endometriosis legislative Awareness Resolutions passed by local and national lawmakers, including House Concurrent Resolution No. 291, a groundbreaking National Endometriosis awareness Resolution. The Resolution was unanimously passed by the 107th Congress of the United States, and is the first and only such Legislation ever to pass in the United States concerning Endometriosis to date. Since that time, the states of New York, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, California, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and others have also passed one or more subsequent statewide Awareness Resolutions.

Ms. Guidone travels frequently to meet the domestic and international demands of the Endometriosis and women’s health communities.  She continues her ongoing efforts in the global community, contributing to like-minded initiatives and endeavors whenever possible, in order to promote advances in the art and science of women’s reproductive healthcare.  She considers it “an absolute honor and privilege” to serve the global Endometriosis community in her coveted role as the CEC’s Surgical Program Director.  Heather maintains her dedicated commitment to serving the needs of all those around the globe who may be affected by Endometriosis and those who care for them, and she invites contact from anyone wishing to learn more about the CEC and Endometriosis via email at Heather@centerforendo.com or by calling the Center toll-free at 866-733-5540 (outside the United States, +770-913-0001).