JOWMA (Jewish Orthodox Women's Medical Association) Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alexandra Dubinskaya, an expert in female pelvic health and urogynecology, to explore her journey and passion for this important area of medicine. Dr. Dubinskaya explains what urogynecology entails, the common pelvic health issues women face, and what happens to the pelvic floor during different life stages. She shares practical advice on maintaining pelvic health, including lifestyle changes to support pelvic floor strength and function. We also dive into the different types of urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction, along with the treatments available. Plus, Dr. Dubinskaya debunks some common myths and misconceptions about female pelvic health. This is a must-listen for women looking to better understand and care for their bodies!

Dr. Alexandra Dubinskaya is the founding physician at the Los Angeles Institute for Pelvic & Sexual Health in Beverly Hills, CA. She has sculpted a multidisciplinary haven that stands as a testament to her visionary approach to women’s sexual health and wellness.

The institute caters to patients seeking expert care for issues ranging from urinary incontinence to pelvic organ prolapse, UTIs to interstitial cystitis, vestibulodynia to sexual dysfunction. Dr. Dubinskaya harmoniously blends her vast expertise in urogynecology, female pelvic medicine, reconstructive surgery, sexual health, and menopause to offer a holistic care paradigm that truly celebrates and nurtures women.

Her journey started in Russia where she had the honor of training at the prestigious North Western State Medical University and I.I. Dzhanelidze Research Institute of Emergency Care in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She then continued to the revered hallways of institutions like Tufts Medical Center in Boston and St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Dr. Dubinskaya has honed her craft, always driven by her unwavering commitment to women’s health. Her pivotal experience at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, CA, as a fellow of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, further solidified her position as a vanguard in her field.

Dr. Dubinskaya is globally recognized and serves as the chairperson of the Communication Committee for the International Society of Sexual Medicine, championing sexual literacy and championing a dialogue about women’s intimate health on a grand scale.

A prolific contributor to academia, her insights are splashed across the pages of esteemed journals and seminal textbooks, including Ostergard’s Urogynecology and Steele’s Colorectal Textbooks, setting new benchmarks in women’s health. She was also published in Taking Care of You, writing the chapter on Vulvodynia and published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Alison Escalante, pediatrician and author, about her powerful concept of the "shouldstorm"—the relentless culture of criticism and pressure that overwhelms today's parents. Dr. Escalante walks us through her 3-step method—"Sigh, See, Start"—which helps parents overcome stress and embrace a calmer, more joyful approach to parenting. We discuss how this method fosters self-compassion and trust, the dangers of striving for perfection, and the societal forces driving modern parenting anxiety. Dr. Escalante also shares insights on co-regulation and how parents can discern evidence-based advice from unsupported claims in a world full of "parenting experts." Don’t miss this enlightening and empowering conversation!

Alison Escalante, MD is a Pediatrician, author of the upcoming book Sigh, See, Start: How to Be the parent your child needs in a world that won’t stop pushing, Writer and Woman on a Mission to ease the epidemic of anxiety that has convinced us we are always failing and is stealing our joy. She has developed a 3 step method to help parents raise their kids mindfully, skillfully AND enjoy doing it. She is a contributor for Forbes and Psychology Today and is a TEDx speaker. Her website is SighSeeStart.com or  alisonescalante.com.

In this insightful interview, Lizzy Savetsky opens up about her decision to publicly share her struggles with alcohol and why she chose to do so on a platform like Aish. We discuss the resources available within the Jewish community for those facing alcohol use disorder and explore what more can be done to provide support. Lizzy shares her thoughts on navigating holidays where alcohol plays a significant role and the impact of "mommy wine culture" on recognizing when help is needed. We also delve into her transition from fashion blogging to Jewish and Israel advocacy, her experiences in this new role, and how she stays resilient in the face of challenges. Finally, Lizzy offers advice to those who are hesitant to be publicly Jewish due to fears of retaliation or attacks and shares strategies for maintaining resilience during difficult times.

Lizzy Savetsky is a leading Jewish influencer and pro-Israel activist.

Lizzy started her online journey over a decade ago as a fashion blogger, posting on her blog, Excessories Expert, and Instagram page. Gradually – Lizzy began to share more about her family life, Jewish faith and traditions, and educational content, including “Yiddish Word of the Week” and her daughter’s weekly “Torah Corner.” In 2019, Lizzy changed her handle from ExcessoriesExpert to LizzySavetsky to focus more exclusively on Jewish and Israel content.

Lizzy has spoken publicly about her struggles with alcoholism and her challenges with infertility and pregnancy loss. She has worked to destigmatize these topics and helped thousands to feel less alone. 

In 2021 Lizzy dedicated a Sefer Torah to the IDF in memory of pregnancy loss, following a global campaign to raise $57,000 from thousands of individuals, in the merit of the lives that never came to fruition. 

Lizzy was a dedicated voice for Israel long before October 7, but in the past few months she has used her platforms to support Israel, interview families of hostages and survivors of the massacre, support Jewish college students, and educate her followers about the increase in antisemitism around the world.

Lizzy is the author of “Thou Shalt Be Beautiful: The Forgotten Jewish Ideal,” which was published by Wicked Son in 2023 as part of the book Jewish Priorities: Sixty-Five Proposals for the Future of Our People, along with contributions from prominent Jewish thought leaders.  

Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Lizzy lives in New York City with her husband Dr. Ira Savetsky – a renowned plastic surgeon - and their three children.

Follow Lizzy @LizzySavetsky (https://www.instagram.com/lizzysavetsky/?hl=en)

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Dr. Priya Jaisinghani, MD, is a dedicated endocrinologist specializing in adult care, with expertise in endocrinology, obesity medicine, and diabetes. She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Jaisinghani completed her fellowship in Endocrinology at New York Presbyterian - Weill Cornell, following her residency in Internal Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center. She obtained her MD from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Jaisinghani is committed to providing personalized and compassionate care, focusing on conditions such as diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, hair loss, and fertility issues.

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Mindy Blumenfeld, a trauma therapist, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice. She is certified in EMDR, Somatic Experiencing as well as trained in IFS and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. She works through a lens of attachment and how early experiences impact human development. Her other passions are speaking and writing, using both to educate her audiences about therapy, meaningful living, and relationships. She is columnist for Binah Magazine and does many teleconferences and motivational speaking. She also loves rollerblading, yoga, and her grandchildren (yeah, she's that old). To contact her for speaking engagements or just to say hi, you can email at [email protected]. 

www.mindyblumenfeld.com

Mindy Blumenfeld on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-blumenfeld-lcsw-a8067583/

https://vimeo.com/marclumerproductions/hillel?share=copy

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Yair Saperstein, MD MPH is CEO and cofounder of AvoMD. He is a dual board-certified physician in internal medicine and clinical informatics, is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) and is affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital.
Dr. Saperstein served on the implementation team for multiple Epic go-lives, and was inpatient medicine Chief Resident at HHC's Kings County Hospital, leading over 400 providers through New York's first wave of COVID. Dr. Saperstein graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine with distinction in research in global health and from SUNY Downstate with a Masters in Public Health in hospital policy and management.
Previously, Dr. Saperstein cofounded and led two non-profit organizations for over ten years, StartScience.org and Teach4Kids.org, scaling both internationally. Additionally, he is an acclaimed classical concert pianist and has won numerous awards, including The Jewish Week's "36 under 36" most influential Jewish Americans.

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Dr. Simcha Chesner is a clinical psychologist, trained and raised in the USA. He has lived in Israel for the past 33 years. He founded a network of junior high and high schools for boys with ADHD in Israel and has served the Israeli community for the past three decades. He has written several books in Hebrew and Kosher ADHD is his first book, co-authored with Dr. Sara Markowitz in English for the Jewish communities of the United States

Dr. Sara Markowitz, Ph.D. has achieved an incredible amount, in large part due to her personal “ADHD” superpowers. In addition to obtaining a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Farleigh Dickinson University, Dr. Markowitz is is the founding director of an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Jewish Women at Achieve Behavioral Health, the largest behavioral health center serving the greater Jewish community. Dr. Markowitz continues to develop curriculum and measure clinical outcome research for ADHD parenting groups and integration of ADHD individuals within the Jewish community. She has developed curricula, currently utilized in schools and families focusing on overcoming challenges of multiple origins.
In addition to her formal professional activities, Dr. Markowitz is a mother to five awesome children and is the Rebbetzin of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey.

Kosher ADHD: Surviving and Thriving in the Torah-Observant World 

https://a.co/d/5qRJCHH

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On October 7, Hamas launched a horrific terror attack in Israel. Over 1,300 Israelis have been killed, over 3,200 have been injured, and nearly 200 hostages have been taken.

As always, JOWMA’s network of physicians is here to serve the Jewish world.

Now, WE NEED YOUR HELP. Help support JOWMA’s work and our medical mission. We are bringing critically-needed physicians to save lives in Israel. Every dollar raised goes directly to support this

Donate to JOWMA's Medical Mission: https://donate.cwsio.com/jowma/

Eliza “Shevie” Kassai, MD is a board-certified general and trauma surgeon. She has been a valued member of the Mountain View Surgical team since 2020. Born and raised in Denver, she attended medical school at the Technion in Israel and subsequently returned to Denver to complete her training. She completed her internship and residency in General Surgery at the University of Colorado. She completed a Research Fellowship in Trauma Surgery during her training and her research has been published in multiple medical journals, including the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Injury, and The American Surgeon. She is certified in robotic surgery, and serves as the Medical Director of the Wound Care and Advanced Hyperbaric Center at The Medical Center of Aurora. She lives with her husband and three children in Denver. Dr. Kassai loves skiing, running, traveling, and spending time with her family.

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Alisa Minkin, MD is former host of JOWMA Podcast which provides health education geared to the Orthodox community. Dr Minkin also previously produces the JOWMA Preventative Health hotline (929-4-GEZUNT/929-444-9868) and is past chair of the JOWMA Preventative Health Committee. She is a board-certified pediatrician in Oceanside, NY. She attended Johns Hopkins University followed by New York University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. Dr Minkin is on the Leadership Panel of the Haredi Health Coalition which serves as a liaison between NYC’s Department of Health and the New York hareidi community.  She has worked on numerous Covid-19 and vaccine related community health efforts in the past, including the EMES Vaccine Task Force. Dr Minkin’s public health efforts on behalf of the Orthodox community has been featured in numerous Orthodox media outlets including Mishpacha and Wellspring magazine.

Jennie Berkovich, DO is a board certified pediatrician and Director of Education for JOWMA. She is the new host of the JOWMA podcast.

Sheindel (Ifrah) Goldfeiz, OMS-IV is a fourth year medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. She lives in New Jersey with her three adorable children and her husband. After graduating with a BA in Elementary and Special Education, Sheindel taught middle school science for three years and subsequently completed a post-bacc in basic sciences at Temple University. In her current role as COO-CFO of JOWMA, Sheindel works to promote accessibility to health education in the Jewish community, as well as increase support and opportunities for physicians at all stages of training. She is also involved in ongoing epidemiology, ophthalmology, and cultural competency related research projects.

Atira Kaplan, MD is a board-certified physiatrist. She received her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center; and completed residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and fellowship in Women’s Health Rehabilitation, at Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Kaplan works in two private practices, Maxwell Medical in Manhattan, and Millennium Medical and Rehabilitation in Westchester, where she treats patients with a wide variety of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions including pelvic floor dysfunction.

Brenda Neuman is a fourth-year medical student at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She is originally from the Orthodox Jewish Community of Brooklyn, NY. Brenda graduated Summa Cum Laude from CUNY Brooklyn College in 2019 with a BA in Chemistry. She is actively involved in hosting specialty spotlight podcasts and serves on the board of the JOWMA Premed committee. Brenda currently resides in Long Island with her husband, Dr. Michael Lovihayeem.

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