California Family Health Council, Inc.

Anita Nelson, MD

Dr. Nelson is the medical director of CFHC. She also serves as a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UCLA School of Medicine and is a full-time faculty member in the gynecology department at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where she directs the Women's Health Care Clinic (WHCC) and the largest women's health care nurse practitioner training program in the country. In addition, she conducts the contraceptive training of OB-GYN and family practice residents at Harbor-UCLA, and the internal medicine residents at St. Mary's Hospital in Long Beach. She also supervises the residents in the Abnormal Cytology Clinic.

Dr. Nelson's research focuses on contraception, gynecologic infections, and menopause. She is a recognized authority on contraceptive technology. She has served as a co-investigator in Phase III studies of gestodene and three studies sponsored by the NIH Women's Health Initiative. As principle investigator, she has conducted a Phase III study of a male polyurethane condom, a Phase IV study of antibiotic prophylaxis at IUD insertion, and a Phase II NIH study of a new emergency contraception drug. Other research experience includes an HIV behavioral intervention study, an evaluation of ultrasound used to direct abscess drainage/biopsy, and a health survey of indigent women's prenatal care.

Dr. Nelson has published articles about contraception and STD treatment. She is an editor of Contraceptive Technology Update and a consultant for the Medical Letter. She writes for Baby Talk magazine and First magazine. She frequently contributes to women's magazines, press stories, and television interviews. She has also reviewed patient education materials and continuing education programs for medical professionals for the state of California.

Ron Frezieres, MSPH

Mr. Frezieres is the director of the CFHC Research Division. He has 20 years experience in the design, execution, and analysis of Phase I, II, III, and IV clinical investigations. He formed the CFHC research team whose members include Anita Nelson MD, Leslie Bernstein PhD, Virginia Clark PhD, and Terri Walsh MPH.

Mr. Frezieres received his MSPH degree in Epidemiology from UCLA in 1979. He began his career as project director of a multicenter NCI study of benign breast disease. During his 20 year tenure at CFHC, Mr. Frezieres has served as the project director for a Phase III NIH efficacy trial of the cervical cap and a Phase II NIH efficacy trial of a spermicidal vaginal sponge. As co-investigator, Mr. Frezieres conducted a Phase III NIH efficacy trial of a male polyurethane condom and a Phase IV NIH clinical trial evaluating the benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of IUD insertion. Mr. Frezieres has served as principle investigator for a Phase I acceptability and tolerance study of a female condom, numerous Phase II and III efficacy trials of non-latex male condoms, and a Phase III efficacy study of a fertility monitor used for contraception.

Mr. Frezieres has published numerous articles in Contraception and Family Planning Perspectives. He is frequently asked to present papers at professional conference and media forums. He provides consultation to private and public institutions in clinical trial design, project management, and recruitment strategies.

Terri Walsh, MPH

Ms. Walsh is the director of clinical trials and evaluation at CFHC. She has over 15 years experience is study design, protocol development, data management, analysis, and report writing. She has supervised the data management and performed analysis for a wide variety of clinical studies including: efficacy trials of the cervical cap, vaginal sponge, and male polyurethane condom; slippage/breakage studies of male condoms; a clinical evaluation of the benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of IUD insertion; and an evaluation of the value of PSA as a seminal marker.

Ms. Walsh received a MPH degree from the UCLA School of Public Health in 1982 and was honored as the epidemiology division's most distinguished student. In 1983, Ms. Walsh joined the CFHC (formerly LARFPC) Research team as a biostatistician/data manager. Since then, Ms. Walsh has designed and managed research databases that exceed 50,000 data collection forms in multiple, interactive data sets. She is skilled at life-table analysis, multiple and logistic regression, and a broad spectrum of other statistical applications.

Ms. Walsh has authored numerous scientific articles published in Contraception, Family Planning Perspectives, and Lancet. She has also presented at many professional conferences. She has provided consultation to international natural family planning programs, smoking cessation programs, health care surveys, STD surveillance projects, and health care delivery evaluations.

For further information about CFHC Research, please contact Ron Frezieres, Division Director at (213) 386-5614 x 4403.

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