Medical advisory board
In addition to the doctors and nurses on the board of trustees the charity also has a number of the UK's leading experts involved in the charity's operations.
While not involved in the day-to-day administration the following experts are available to provide insight and expertise in their particular fields to ensure the information the charity provides is gold standard. Furthermore, they are involved in the charity's research direction and service development advice.
To enquire about becoming a member of our medical advisory board please complete the form at the bottom of this page.
Dr Yusra Khan (Chair) - GP
Yusra Khan is a GP Partner at Stoke Gifford and Conygre Medical Centre in Bristol. She undertook her Undergraduate medical training at the University of Bristol awarded with Honours. She went on to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Care from the University of Bath awarded with distinction. She has also attained the diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRCOG).
She suffered from Hypermesis Gravidarum in both of her pregnancies and since has been committed to delivering education to promote early recognition and improved management of this debilitating condition amongst healthcare professionals and the public. She has published an article in RCGP InnovAiT for GP trainees and is an Educational Supervisor for GP Trainees in the Southwest. She has also written articles about this condition alongside numerous other medical conditions for OnMedica, an online learning platform. She has written a guideline on Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP) and Hypermesis Gravidarum for NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board as well as for North Bristol NHS Trust. She has delivered presentations at the RCOG National Trainee Conference and the RCGP Women’s Health One Day Essential Conference. She has raised media awareness of NVP and Hyperemesis Gravidarum by performing interviews with BBC Breakfast and Radio 5 Live.
Professor Catherine Nelson-Piercy MA FRCP FRCOG
Catherine Nelson-Piercy is a Consultant Obstetric Physician at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals Trust and the Lead Obstetric Physician for the South East London Maternal Medicine Network. In 2010 she was awarded the title of Professor of Obstetric Medicine at King’s College London. Her undergraduate studies were at King’s College, Cambridge University and St Bartholomew’s Hospital. She trained as a physician, and was taught Obstetric Medicine by Professor Michael de Swiet.
Professor Nelson-Piercy is past President of the International Society of Obstetric Medicine (ISOM). She was founding co-editor in chief of the journal ‘Obstetric Medicine: the medicine of pregnancy.’
Professor Nelson-Piercy has been involved in the development of several evidence-based National Guidelines notably for “Contraception in Women with Heart Disease”, BTS / SIGN “Asthma in Pregnancy” and RCOG Green top guidelines on “Reducing the risk of thromboembolism during pregnancy, birth & the puerperium” and ‘Management of nausea vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum”. She has over 250 publications and has edited five books and written the successful Handbook of Obstetric Medicine, now in its sixth edition. She is also one of the central physician assessors for the UK Confidential maternal deaths enquiry.
Dr Melanie Nana
Melanie Nana is an obstetric medicine registrar and NIHR clinical research fellow at King’s College London. She undertook her undergraduate studies and the majority of her clinical training in Cardiff. In 2020 Melanie moved to London to undertake a clinical fellowship at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital Trust during which time she was taught obstetric medicine by Professor Catherine Nelson-Piercy and completed the Royal College of Physicians credential in Obstetric Medicine.
Melanie’s research focusses on severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. In 2021 she published the largest study, to date, exploring the lived experience of women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) in the UK. Recently Melanie was an awarded an NIHR Research Training Fellowship, during which she will undertake a PhD focused on nutrient status in women with HG and the consequences on their children. This work will be carried out at King’s College London supervised by Professor Catherine Williamson.
Dr Caitlin Dean
Caitlin is a Registered General Nurse who specialises in hyperemesis gravidarum following her personal experience of the condition.
As the Chairperson for Pregnancy Sickness Support she has established a national support network for those affected in the UK and has supported the development of sister networks in Ireland and Australia. Caitlin holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Research and has completed a PhD in hyperemesis research with the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam. She lives on a farm in Cornwall with her husband, three children and dog.
Dr Kenneth Hodson MD MBChB MRCP(UK) MRCOG
Dr Kenneth Hodson is the head of the UK Teratology Information Service and also a consultant obstetrician with a specialist interest in maternal medicine based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Ken leads specialised clinics for women with cardiac disease and renal disease in pregnancy along with a general maternal medicine clinic each week. Ken trained in both general medicine and obstetrics and gynaecology and has a broad clinical knowledge and experience in the interaction between medical disorders and pregnancy.
