Leadership Council

Daniel Bowers, MD, is a board-certified Family Physician and a nationally recognized HIV physician. Born in a small town in Iowa, Dr. Bowers got his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. After completing his family practice residency at the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1980, Dr. Bowers joined a small family practice clinic in the Como Park area of Saint Paul where he delivered babies, set fractures, performed minor surgery, ran a nursing home, and cared for families that were five generations deep. He also continued to teach in the Family Practice Department of the University of Minnesota Medical School. As an openly gay physician, Dr. Bowers was one of the first doctors to see gay men with swollen glands and recurrent infections at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As one of the pioneers in this field, Dr. Bowers was an early spokesperson against AIDS discrimination and a vocal advocate for public education and awareness programs.

In 1989 Dr. Bowers moved to Los Angeles to join Pacific Oaks Medical Group, the largest private practice in the country specializing in HIV, whose founders reported the original five cases of AIDS to the CDC in 1981. For the next nineteen years Dr. Bowers participated in the evolution of the treatment of HIV/AIDS from the care of those struggling with AIDS through the arrival of triple drug combination therapy to the present state-of-the-art treatment of HIV as a long-term manageable disease. As a senior partner at Pacific Oaks, Dr. Bowers became a thought leader in the field of HIV/AIDS and has lectured, consulted, and written extensively on the subject. At the same time, he also maintained a large and diversified practice in general adult medicine, with special interests in travel medicine, male aging, and sexually transmitted diseases.

In 2008, Dr. Bowers moved to New York City and now works at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, an LGBTQ focused clinic, where his practice includes both HIV and transgender care. On a personal basis, he and his husband have one son.

Triste A. Brooks has been in leadership roles with Planned Parenthood for 26 years. Since 2009, she has been the CEO/President of Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central and Southern New Jersey, Inc. (PPNCSNJ). PPNCSNJ’s mission is to provide high-quality, comprehensive, accessible, and affordable reproductive health care services, emphasizing privacy, confidentiality, dignity, and self-determination. PPNCSNJ also advocates for public policies that guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services and provides and supports education programs that expand understanding of human sexuality. The Affiliate has 16 health centers, serving geographically most of New Jersey. All PPNCSNJ locations remained open throughout the COVID pandemic. During her 12 years in New Jersey, Triste oversaw the merger of four New Jersey PP Affiliates between 2012 and 2016. She has been an active participant in state advocacy efforts, including serving on Gov. Murphy’s Health Care Transition Commission. She also serves on several of PPFA’s national-level Committees and Task Forces, with a focus on governance and security. Prior to joining PPNCSNJ, Triste worked at Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast, Inc. as the Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for the entire medical and educational operations of the Affiliate. Prior to her work with Planned Parenthood, for over a decade, she operated Juvenile Prisons/Treatment Programs in Florida and Maryland, specializing in Serious Habitual Offenders and Sexually Aggressive Youth (“Sex Offenders”). Her work has been widely recognized and she was appointed by Florida’s Governor Jeb Bush to Florida’s Advisory Group for Juvenile Justice. Triste received her MS in Organizational Management and Leadership from Springfield College. She is a Certified Sexuality Educator with the American Association of Sexuality Education, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). Triste’s husband Lawrence is Executive Director of Hunterdon Youth Services. They are parents to a spoiled Pekingese named Pac-Man.

Alberto has been in the nonprofit arena for over 32 years and has broad experience in organizational management and governance. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Mama’s Kitchen and has been leading the organization since 2002. Alberto has a BA from National University and an MBA from San Diego State University. He is a veteran of the US Navy Submarine Force and sings second tenor with the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus.

Joycelyn Elders, MD, MS, Former U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Elders, a native of Schaal, AR, is the eldest of eight children. Now a Professor Emeritus of pediatric endocrinology at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, Dr. Elders never saw a physician prior to her first year in college. At the age of 15 she received a scholarship from the United Methodist Church to attend Philander Smith College in Little Rock, AR. Upon graduation at age 18, she entered the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant and received training as a physical therapist.

Dr. Elders attended the University of Arkansas Medical School (UAMS) on the G.I. Bill. After graduation in 1960, she was an intern at the University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis and did a pediatric residency and an endocrinology fellowship at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock and she ascended the academic ladder to full professorship after her fellowship and board certification in 1976. She also holds a Master of Science degree in biochemistry.

Dr. Elders was nominated as Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service by President Clinton on July 1st, 1993, confirmed by the Senate September 7th, and sworn in on September 8th. Dr. Elders served in this post until January 1995 following which, she returned to the University of Arkansas Children’s Hospital until her retirement on June 30th, 1998.

Dr. Elders says her greatest achievement is that she married Oliver Elders and they have two sons, Eric and Kevin.

Frederic Ettner, MD, is a Board-certified family physician whose 37-year practice has included the delivery of over 3,000 babies. He has been providing medical care to the transgender community for 20 years. Clinical instructor for Northwestern University Medical School, The Chicago Medical School, the University of Chicago and Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, previously Medical Director of Alternative Medicine for Advocate Health Care, consultant to the Head Start Program, and consultant to the Public Guardian of Cook County, Illinois, and Dr. Ettner now serves as Medical Director of the Chicago Gender Center. He is an advocate in the courtroom for state and federal adjudication in cases involving transgender medical issues. He is an officer and member of the Board of Directors of New Health Foundation Worldwide, an organization that assists transgender persons. Drs Fred and Randi Ettner are the lead donors to the Randi and Fred Ettner Fellowship in Transgender Health at the Program in Human Sexuality.

Randi Ettner, PhD, is a clinical and forensic psychologist. She attended Northwestern, Indiana, Harvard, and Roosevelt Universities, and Moray College in Scotland; received the Indiana University Outstanding Psychology Student award; and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She holds Diplomate status in clinical evaluation and trauma. Dr. Ettner has written three books, including a medical and surgical text, Principles of Transgender Medicine and Surgery, numerous peer-reviewed publications on transgenderism, and an internationally syndicated column on women’s health. Dr. Ettner’s work with the transgender community began when she was a student volunteer at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She is the founder and President of New Health Foundation Worldwide, an organization that conducts research and outreach on transgender issues.

Dr. Ettner has been instrumental in the passage of anti-discrimination laws; has provided testimony that helped establish legal precedent for the rights of transgender individuals in the workplace; the attainment of appropriate healthcare for incarcerated persons, and the passage of Medicare legislation for transgender care. She has appeared on hundreds of television and radio programs as an advocate for the transgender community, and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Presently, Dr. Ettner is chief psychologist of the Chicago Gender Center, and serves on the Board of Directors of WPATH, and is Chair of the Institutionalized Persons Committee. Drs Fred and Randi Ettner are the lead donors to the Randi and Fred Ettner Fellowship in Transgender Health at the Program in Human Sexuality.

Andrea Jenkins has more than 25 years of public service experience as a Minneapolis City Council policy aide, nonprofit executive director and consultant, and Hennepin County employment specialist.

From 2001 to 2003 and from 2006 to 2015 she served as policy aide to two different Ward 8 city council members, Robert Lilligren and Elizabeth Glidden. In that role, she worked directly with ward constituents to address their needs and concerns, from public safety to property development proposals. In 2017, Andrea became the first openly transgender Black woman elected to public office in the U.S. when she became Minneapolis’ Ward 8 city council member. She has lived in the Bryant neighborhood for 16 years.

Andrea is also an award-winning poet, writer, and performer. She has earned fellowships from the Bush Foundation, the Givens Foundation, and the Playwrights Center, among others. She has performed her original work in venues around Minnesota and the nation, including Pillsbury House Theater and the Walker Art Center. Her poems have been published in journals, anthologies, and chapbooks, and in 2015 she published a full-length poetry collection, The T is Not Silent.

In 2015, Andrea became the first Oral Historian for the Transgender Oral History Project of the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies at the University of Minnesota.

Andrea holds a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University (St. Paul, MN), a master’s degree in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University (Manchester, NH), and a master’s degree in creative writing from Hamline University (St. Paul, MN).

A proud parent and grandparent, Andrea is also in a long-term, committed relationship.

June La Valleur, MD, FACOG is a retired University of Minnesota Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health. She was the course director for the required OB/GYN clerkship for all medical students as well as two elective OB/GYN clerkships. She co-taught the Sexual Health Course for medical students at the University of Minnesota and Mayo Medical schools. She was a board member for many years at the University of Minnesota Physicians, Pangea World Theater, University of Minnesota Foundation National Alumni Board, and is currently on the board of trustees of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota. She served nationally on the Women's Health Access Advisory Board. She has authored many publications and participated in many investigational studies including WHI and HERS. She was involved in the recognition of the U of MN as a Center of Excellence in Women's Health. The Minnesota Medical Foundation honored her in 1998 with the first Alumni Society Alumni Recognition Award. Her special areas of interests include menopause and sexuality. She was awarded a 2-year BUSH Medical Fellowship. Two years ago, she began her new journey by getting further training at the Florida Institute to become a Certified Sexual Health Counselor. She is currently the only MD in the 5-state area that is also an AASECT Certified Sexual Health Counselor. Dr. La Valleur is currently working at Minnesota Personalized Medicine in downtown Minneapolis.

Chip Martin-Chaffee, MD, is a pediatric cardiologist and neonatologist at St. Cloud Hospital and is on the faculty of the University of Minnesota. Dr. Martin-Chaffee was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and medical school in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the University of Michigan. He came to Minneapolis in 1987 to begin his residency in Pediatrics. He served as Chief Resident for one year at the conclusion of his residency, and then he entered a combined fellowship training program in Pediatric Cardiology and Neonatology. He joined the division of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Minnesota in 1996 where he practices both clinical Pediatric Cardiology and Neonatology. He remains on the faculty in the department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor and still works at the University monthly attending on the in- patient service, in the Echocardiography Lab and actively teaching the Pediatric Cardiology fellows. Dr. Martin-Chaffee has been working with Eli Coleman and ISGH since the early 1990’s.

Stacey Mills recently ended her tenure as a member of the firm Heins Mills and Olson, she is now of counsel to the firm. She has a wealth of experience litigating class and other complex litigation. 

Paul Mittlestadt was born and raised in southern MN, graduating from Blue Earth High School. He graduated from Mankato State College in 1973. Subsequently, he taught high school for one year on the US Virgin Islands followed by a year of teaching high school in Gibbon MN. Then attended the UM Medical School, graduating in 1979. Paul completed a family practice residency associated with the University of Iowa in 1982. His family practice experience, 2 years of private practice in Cresco, Iowa was, very typical of family practice, complete with OB, surgery, and clinical experience in this idyllic city in Iowa. Because of dissatisfaction with his work location, he completed the experience track over 5 years of becoming board certified in Emergency Medicine in 1989. Overall, Paul practiced Emergency Medicine for 40+ years, retiring from ER medicine in 2021. Most of the ER medicine he practiced was mostly in the metro area of MN. Currently Paul is working half time doing urgent care medicine at a Twin Cities urgent care facility. Special interests he has include sporting activities such as biking, hiking, and racquetball. One of his favorite activities is traveling to experience the worlds different cultures. While in medical school Paul became more aware of his "alternative " sexual gender preferences (as the term that was used 45 years ago). After an unhappy marriage, he divorced and embraced his sexual gender preference, accepting homosexuality as a normal lifestyle. Throughout this transition he maintained connections with family, friends, and work colleagues. Paul is looking forward to being of help with ISGH.

Susan Phipps-Yonas, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and forensic evaluator in private practice in Phoenix, AZ. Phipps-Yonas has worked with individuals, families, and children throughout her career. She has expertise in the areas of child and adolescent sexual health, child custody, childhood abuse, the impact of trauma on adaptation, and forensic interviews and has published articles on these topics. Phipps-Yonas has taught college-level courses and given professional presentations around the country on these subjects as well. Phipps-Yonas is a graduate of Cornell University and received her PhD from the University of Minnesota.

In 1972, Phipps-Yonas and two other students founded an ad hoc committee on women’s studies. The efforts of these three women were instrumental in the creation of the Women’s Studies program and Women’s Studies major at the University of Minnesota. Phipps-Yonas served on the program's governing committee, subcommittee on curriculum and personnel, and as program administrator. The Women’s Studies program at U of M has gone on to achieve national prominence.

Phipps-Yonas is married to Albert Yonas and has four children and five grandchildren.

Jennifer N. Pritzker is a Chicago based investor, philanthropist, and retired Army officer. She is the President & CEO of Tawani Enterprises and on the management committee of Squadron Capital, LLC of Granby CT. Tawani Enterprises, founded in 1994, is a venture capital organization currently focused on real estate with specialties in vintage building development and property management as well as private portfolio management. Squadron Capital is a venture capital organization with an emphasis in medical device manufacturing. Her real estate activities include restoration and operation of the 1912 Monroe Building in Chicago and the Emil Bach House designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1915. Pritzker served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and Illinois Army National Guard 1974-2001, rising in rank from private to lieutenant colonel with an honorary promotion to full colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard upon retirement in March 2001. Pritzker’s military career began with enlisted service in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1974 to 1977. She was commissioned in 1979 and served with the 101st Airborne Division in the U.S. and VII CORPS in. Germany. The remainder of her career was divided by service in the U.S. Army Reserves followed by nearly 15 years of service in the Illinois Army National Guard. Pritzker’s philanthropic activities include Trustee Emerita Norwich University, Founder and Chair of Pritzker Military Museum and Library, Founder and President of Tawani Foundation, and Life Director of USO of Illinois. Pritzker has participated in the planning, sponsoring, and execution of scientific expeditions to Antarctica between 2000-2008 to study meteorites and extreme life forms. Among Pritzker’s colleagues on these various expeditions included Astronauts James Lovell and Owen Garrett as well as Dr. Birgitt Sattler, the Austrian Delegate to the Antarctic Treaty Organization and First Austrian Woman to reach the South Pole. Pritzker currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and is on Visiting Committee for the University of Chicago Library. She is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago with a B.A. in history, with graduate studies in military history at American Military University. Her military education includes numerous Army schools at the enlisted and officer level to include the Army Command and General Staff College as well as an honorary doctorate from Norwich University. She has 3 children, as well as two grandchildren, and celebrated her marriage to Ms. Erin E. Solaro in October, 2020.

Lydia Roth-Laube Ph.D., LP, LMFT is a licensed psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. She did a human sexuality fellowship at University of Minnesota, Program in Human Sexuality in 1974. She was a large group leader in the SAR program at the University of Minnesota from 1978-1986. Lydia was on the clinical faculty, Assistant Professor at the Program in Human Sexuality from 1990-1995 where she led women’s sexuality groups, sexual abuse groups, and sexual compulsivity groups and also worked with couples and individuals dealing with sexual and/or marital issues.

She has conducted workshops and made presentations on sexuality both locally and nationally including seminars on sexuality at the medical school at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. For the past 20 years, she has been in private practice in St Louis Park working with couples and individual in a general clinical practice with a specialty in sexual concerns. She has been on the Minnesota Psychological Association annual state conference planning committee. She has also been on the TAMID arts/music and drama committee at her synagogue putting on programs for the Twin Cities Community. She enjoys biking, working out, going to museums, traveling extensively with ongoing trips to Cape Town to see family. She is married and has two fantastic adult sons.

Pepper Schwartz, PhD, received her PhD from Yale University and is Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington in Seattle. She is the Past President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, the National Sexuality Resource Center and the Pacific Sociological Association. Author of 20 books and over 50 scientific articles, she has been given several awards among them the American Sociological Association's award for Public Understanding of Sociology. Her books include The Normal Bar: The Surprising Secrets of Happy Couples (Crown/Random House, February 2013), Dating after 50 for Dummies (Wiley, 2015), Place for Passion: the 75 most Romantic Places in the World (with Dr. Janet Lever, Frommers, December, 2014) and 50 Great Myths of Human Sexuality (with Martha Kemper, Wiley, November, 2015). She also served as the AARP Love and Relationship Ambassador for over ten years and is one of the founding members of Perfectmatch.com, for whom she created their matching system. Dr. Schwartz is a member of the International Academy of Sex Research, on the Advisory Board of Trojan, and Chair of the Stanford Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences Study Group on aged 50 plus opposite sexed and same sex couples. She is one of the four relationship experts on the hit A&E show Married at First Sight. She is married to Fred Kaseburg, and mother to Cooper and Ryder. She lives on a horse ranch in Snoqualmie, Washington.