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Evelina Weidman Sterling
PhD, MHS '95
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Infertility Research and Fertility Preservation
Since graduating from Hopkins, I have focused on the important topic of infertility. Reproductive health not only involves preventing unintended pregnancies and promoting good overall sexual health, but it also includes assisting people with having children if and when they are ready. Compared to other areas of reproductive health, there is little information about fertility education. Due to this lack of specific focus on fertility, many people are dramatically uninformed about basic procreation when it comes time to build their families. As a result, I have devoted the past decade to educating patients and the general public about fertility and infertility-related issues.
With over 7.3 million people in the U.S. alone struggling with infertility, this is a critical issue for all. I have written four consumer health books focusing on critical topics with only limited available information, including Living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Addicus Books, 2000); Having Your Baby through Egg Donation (Perspectives Press, 2005); Budgeting for Infertility: Bring Home a Baby without Breaking the Bank (Simon & Schuster, 2008); and Before Your Time: Living Well with Early Menopause (under the representation of LJK Literary Agency). Additionally, I have participated in research, education and advocacy surrounding fertility preservation; access to infertility care, diagnoses and treatments; decision-making processes regarding the decision to use third-party reproduction; and long-term outcomes for families who have utilized infertility treatments. It is my hope to apply the public health principles and skills I learned at Hopkins to the often under-recognized reproductive health issues of fertility and infertility. My goal is to improve the lives of individuals who are struggling to have children by providing evidence-based educational initiatives which promote fertility and family building.
Evelina Weidman Sterling lives in Marietta, Ga, where she continues to write and serve as a consultant on various aspects of health education program development, implementation and evaluation.
