CEC Program Director Heather Guidone has been a central figure in the global Endometriosis community for nearly two decades, striving to raise awareness, promote Endometriosis education, advocate for patients, and facilitate clinical disease research. She is also a woman who has experienced severe Stage IV Endometriosis, and in 1997, became a CEC success story herself. Having battled the disease for nearly 25 years, she understands all too well the pain, confusion, isolation and missed opportunities that can come with Endometriosis. After years of debilitating symptoms - including six years of infertility, more than 20 surgeries and countless rounds of ineffective medical therapy - she finally took her care into her own hands and found the path that led her to the CEC.

Understanding the principles of excision surgery, she traveled over 1,100 miles to the CEC and underwent a lengthy LAPEX procedure to remove extensive disease. "Overnight, I could feel the difference," she said. "It was as though I had been given a new lease on life," something she credits Dr. Albee, the CEC team and her predecessor Donna Laux with. But even more positive news was to come: less than a month after her surgery, Heather was elated to discover she was pregnant after years of infertility. Son Dylan, her "CEC miracle," was born in 1998.

Also a professional writer with a primary interest in women's and reproductive health, she has served the clinical and consumer health industries for many years. Her diverse works involve authorship of extensive clinical and consumer materials utilizing peer reviewed sources; interaction with patient, physician, professional and media networks; liaising with industry representatives on various activities and opportunities, including grants, funding, education, research, and lobbying efforts for awareness; and so much more. She also attends and reports on various global medical symposia, including the World Congresses on Endometriosis and the International Controversies in GnRH Agonists; networks with medical, biopharmaceutical, medicolegal and related 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 and Research's (CDER) prestigious Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Board. She has also served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Endometriosis Research Center, an international 501(c)3 non-profit research, education and patient support foundation, since the organization was founded in early 1997.

Heather has worked with and on behalf of many leading biotech, clinical research and healthcare marketing firms, developing original data for various materials and providing extensive research on a myriad of topics, including branding development, monographs, lay and professional educational materials, CME content, proof of concepts, symposium presentations, and much, much more. Resources featuring her content include the Journal of Gynecologic & Obstetric Investigation; the Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Endometriosis; the Journal of Informed Medicine; Insider Reports, Life Tools for Women, Bella, where she served as Gynecology Editor from 2002-2005; OBGYN.net; AOL Health; Galaxy of Health; Health Magazine; the Health Channel, and countless others. She has also served as a consultant to many of the premiere medical device and technology corporations in the women's health sector around the globe, and continues to work on behalf of both the clinical and lay communities for advances in women’s health care.

She holds dual certifications in medical technologies and health education, and is a member of the American Medical Writer's Association, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the international PAX Society, and the World Endometriosis Society. Her work concerning healthcare on the Internet is 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 Managing Editor of OBGYN.net's EndoZONE and Endometriosis Pavilion websites. She has also served as a six-term judge by invitation for the National Health Information Resource Center's celebrated "World Wide Web Health Awards" Program.

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). Heather 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. 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. She continues to be a featured source for articles and interviews about Endometriosis, including in such publications as Season Magazine, RedBook, Cosmopolitan, Pregnancy Today and many others. Additionally, her important testimony concerning dioxin exposure was read before the California State Legislature at the invitation of Assemblyman Cardoza in support of AB2820, a consequential bill calling for the independent investigation of toxins in feminine hygiene products. She has also co-authored the text contained in various Endometriosis legislative Resolutions passed by local and national law makers, 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 such Legislation ever to pass in the United States concerning Endometriosis. Since that time, the states of New York, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, California, Wyoming and Pennsylvania have also passed one or more Resolutions subsequently.

Heather has spent years offering encouragement and education to those affected by this disease and their loved ones, and considers it an absolute honor and privilege to serve the Endometriosis community in her coveted role as CEC Program Director. "My wish is for every woman and girl with Endometriosis to be able to make empowered choices about her own care," she says. Heather believes no one with this disease should feel alone or hopeless. Her single most important advice for patients with Endometriosis: "You have a 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 option based on an informed decision."

As Program Director, Heather serves as your first contact with the CEC and will answer all of your questions and facilitate your entire process with us. She will serve as your advocate throughout your entire CEC experience. She can also be found in the CEC's operating room and in pre- and post-op holding visiting patients on many occasions.

Heather invites contact from all those wishing to learn more about the CEC and Endometriosis via email at Heather@CenterForEndo.com or by calling the CEC toll-free at 866-733-5540.