Endometriosis: A Clinical and Personal Perspective for School Nurses

              
Dr. Kip MacKenzie is an attending ObGyn Physician at Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, with academic appointments at Northeastern University, Boston University and Harvard Medical School, specializing in endometriosis care. He is primarily located in Lexington, MA, with another office in Cambridge, MA. He has 33 years of experience. His specialties include Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Mackenzie is affiliated with St Elizabeths Medical Center and Mount Auburn Hospital. He has received awards such as the Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctors  and the Compassionate Doctor Recognition Award.

              
Nicole Pearlstein is the New England endometriosis advocate and a registered dental hygienist and provider at Roslindale Dental Associates in Roslindale, Massachusetts. Nicole graduated from Northeastern University and Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists in 1994. She has prac- ticed dentistry for 23 years and was among the first of hygienists to be awarded a license in lo- cal anesthesia when the bill was passed in Massachusetts in 2005. Nicole has managed multi discipline practices both from a clinical aspect and from a business perspective throughout greater Boston over the course of her professional career as a hygienist , but her most reward- ing work has been as the New England endometriosis advocate. As a sufferer of the disease and mom of a teenage daughter also with the disease, Nicole saw the need within New England to offer a voice to the 1 in 10 women and girls afflicted with endometriosis. In 2016, Nicole planned and hosted a CME accredited event called The Endometriosis Enigma at Gillette Stadium that premiered the ground breaking film, “ Endo What?” by film producer Shannon Cohn. Among the premier was a panel of the top specialists and advocates in the field of en- dometriosis speaking on the disease, as well as a patient perspective. It was among the most successful events within the endometriosis community. Nicole also planned and hosted the first ever endometriosis march which was held on the Boston Common 2017 , following an intimate panel and patient event at Hampshire House . The second annual endometriosis march was held in 2018 on Boston Common . In addition, Nicole has spoken at Planned Parenthood, Har- vard medical school, MIT medical school, Beth Israel hospital providers and grand rounds at Mt. Auburn Hospital. This past summer, Nicole presented to Massachusetts school nurses through Northeastern University on Cape Cod with excisionist , Dr. Malcolm Mackenzie. Nicole has at- tended endometriosis congress in Vancouver and AAGL meetings in DC , representing patients in New England and has even marched to the nations capitol for endometriosis awareness. Nicole has also served as an admin and contributor to the Greater Boston Endo support group on FaceBook which serves over 600 women and is growing with each day. Nicole has joined in national advocacy efforts which includes multiple doctors and advocates to help to help change the way the disease is managed by providers. Nicole works with film producer, Shannon Cohn to educate school nurses nationwide in a school nurse program. This initiative provides valu- able information for school nurses to identify young girls who may have endometriosis so that treatment can begin earlier.

Michela    Michela Picariello is a junior at Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts. Michela has become a teen endometriosis advocate following her diagnoses at the age of 12 with the disease. Michela has participated in education of medical students at MIT and Harvard University about the disease from a teens perspective. In 2016, Michela sat on a panel at Gillette Stadium at the , Endometriosis Enigma , which was a CME accredited event. She interacted with endometriosis specialist, Dr. Ken Sinervo and reenacted her experience with endometriosis as a teen in front of 300 plus guests. Michela has participated on social media advocating and interacting with other teens with the disease through the Greater Boston Endo Group . In addition, Michela has worked with film maker, Shannon Cohn of Endo What? to give a teenage face to the disease. Michela has traveled to NYC to be filmed speaking her truth for the upcoming Endo What? part II film. Most recently, Michela has written a blog for the upcoming Endometriosis Summit 2019 meeting, which will take place in New Jersey . Michela will be a guest at the upcoming summit. In addition to her advocacy work, Michela has created and manages a fashion blog called, @Michela’s Mood. Michela’s interest in fashion and design has interested Boston social media and fashion influencer, Ashley Steele . This past summer, Michela was invited to do an internship with Ashley and intends on continuing her passion with a future degree in fashion design after she graduates high school. Michela loves hanging with her friends in her free time and her cat, Tiger. Michela lives in Newton, Ma with her mom , Nicole and her brothers, Gianni and Luca.