Outreach Team

Ada is currently studying towards a B.Sc. in Health Sciences at Open University. Ada has seen the vast difference in how healthcare is provided to different genders. Unfortunately, women are often dismissed, devalued, and misdiagnosed. Ada joined TCY to change the gender inequalities in healthcare by helping women become more confident in advocating for their health, so they can live their best, healthiest lives.

In 2026, Ada plans to join TCY full-time to build new digital tools to help women get the information they need, when they need it.

Based in: Oxfordshire, UK

Advisory Council

Adriane is a Strategy & Operations Advisor to Early-Stage Startups. She brings a wealth of experience to the TCY team including leadership operations and marketing roles with a menstrual-health start-up and the American Heart Association. At TCY, Adriane is overseeing strategic initiatives that are feasible, scalable, and sustainable. She is the TCY lead for tracking performance metrics to measure success and implement data-driven improvements that drive health outcomes for our members.

Adriane joined TCY because she believes all women should have access to quality healthcare, and due to a broken system in the US, we have to take matters into our own hands.

Based in: Brooklyn, NY

Scientific Vetting Team

Agathe is a medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai with a M.S. from Mount Sinai and a B.Sc. from McGill University. Born in France and raised in New York City, she is a passionate advocate for women’s health, patient education, and disability rights. Agathe is dedicated to dismantling the stigma around complex health issues and making healthcare accessible for all. With a unique background that blends sociological awareness, bioinformatics, and clinical insight, she understands that health is multifaceted and believes that women’s health deserves full recognition and respect.

Agathe joined TCY to build a platform that empowers women to understand and take charge of their health. contribute. She is deeply committed to creating a community of support, understanding, and advocacy for all aspects of women’s well-being.

Based in: Manhattan, NY

Programming Team

Ahana is an MPH student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, with a B.S. from St. John’s University. NYC has been Ahana’s home since she was five years old, when her family immigrated to the US from Bangladesh. Growing up, Ahana had the unique opportunity to experience life across each of New York City's boroughs, and is so grateful to have been part of such a diverse community. These experiences inspired her commitment to making a difference in people’s lives through health education and advocacy.

Ahana joined TCY because of her commitment to health equity through patient education, preventive care, and intervention strategies. She is honored to be part of a community that advocates for women’s health by creating tools to help women to make informed decisions for themselves.

Based in: Queens, NY

Development Team

Alysha is a medical student at the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. from Yale and a MSc in Population Health from the University College London. She has led women’s health work within Pakistan and other global contexts, which have equipped her with a robust understanding of the unique challenges faced by women in low-resourced settings. Alysha is profoundly committed to addressing the complex influences of culture and religion in clinical care, especially within women’s health.

Alysha joined TCY because she is excited about driving forth meaningful change by leveraging health literacy to bridge gaps in healthcare and address systemic health disparities to improve health and care for women. Outside of her work, Alysha is an avid-matcha lover who enjoys reading (and is always open to new recommendations!) and spending quality time with her family and friends. 

Based in: Oklahoma City, OK

Advisory Council

Dr. d'Almeida is a family medicine resident at UCLA Santa Monica, blending clinical practice, public health, and creative education to advance community-centered care. She earned her M.D. and M.P.H. from Tulane University.

Dr. d'Almeida is passionate about health literacy and making complex medical information accessible to everyone. She co-founded Medicine Explained, which began on TikTok and has grown into The Nuance—a podcast that explores health, the human experience, community well-being, and the intersection of human and environmental health. Through storytelling and honest conversations, she helps educate and empower people toward healthier lives and communities.

Dr. d'Almeida joined TCY to contribute her expertise in social medicine to co-design healing spaces that center community-led voices and solutions; spaces where traditional healing practices can coexist with conventional care in open-air environments to center, support, and uplift collective healing.

Based in: Santa Monica, CA

Outreach Team

Asiya is currently an undergraduate at The University of Texas at Austin, where she is pursuing a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Entrepreneurship and a Spanish for Health Professions certification. She brings a strong foundation in clinical care, research, and community engagement—working as a medical assistant, translator, tutor, and research assistant across pediatric and ecological health settings.

Asiya’s dream is to become a physician who practices integrative and functional medicine— collaborating with patients to create personalized treatment plans that blend nutrition, lifestyle changes, and mind-body practices with conventional medicine.

Asiya is committed to building a career that restores patients’ energy, hope, and confidence in their bodies, which is why she joined TCY to lead community efforts that empower people from illness to healing through sustainable, holistic habits, we can implement in our day-to-day lives.

Based in: Austin, TX

Programming Team

Gabi is studying towards her Masters degree in Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, on the Global health track, concentrating in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She previously received her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry at St. John’s University in Queens. Having worked in a clinical setting during the COVID-19 pandemic and lived in New York all her life, her dedication to championing health equity, holistic education, and women's health grew exponentially as she continued to witness the disparities in our Healthcare system. Her experiences have led to interning at the Department of Health for the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems and researching women's health at Mount Sinai.

Gabi’s continued commitment to advocating for women's health and health education is why she joined TCY. She believes that creating spaces that bridge the intersectionality of the gaps in women’s healthcare is essential to creating a more comprehensive healthcare system and hopes one day to be part of building those spaces through TCY. When she is not in class or at work, she enjoys going on walks, trying new soup recipes, and painting/ drawing. 

Based in: Astoria, NY

Advisory Council

Dr. Gema Simmons is an obstetrician-gynecologist who earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and completed her OB/GYN residency at the Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education.

Dr. Simmons has the privilege of walking alongside women through every stage of life—from adolescence to pregnancy and beyond. She finds the greatest fulfillment when a patient, often a new one, tells her that for the first time she feels heard and truly understands her options. These moments affirm her commitment to providing care that is attentive, empowering, and grounded in trust.

Dr. Simmons joined TCY to contribute her decades of clinical experience and leadership towards advancing women’s health disparities by centering women’s voices in holistic and equitable care.

Based in: Omaha, NE

Development Team

Hajar Samih is a public health advocate and aspiring physician, holding a B.A. in the History of Science & Medicine from Yale University, with a concentration in global health. Passionate about the evolution of health equity, Hajar has extensively studied the factors shaping healthcare systems, particularly through her senior thesis on the evolution of Morocco’s maternal health system during the pre-and post-colonial periods. Her research underscores the importance of women-led healthcare initiatives.

At TCY, Hajar is eager to support women globally to take charge of their health. She aims to leverage her background to foster a global community of women advocating for their health, ‘by us and for us.’ Additionally, Hajar is excited to tap into her passion for photography and design to enhance TCY’s outreach and engage with women worldwide.

Based in Manhattan, NY

Advisory Council

Iti is a researcher and strategist working at the intersection of mental health, health systems, and economics. Iti completed her Master’s in International and Development Economics at Yale University and currently leads Research and Policy at Sukoon Health.

Iti designs sustainable financial models to expand access and improve long-term outcomes and is spearheading efforts to build India’s first public mental health intervention centre. Her vision is to create mental health spaces that offer a full continuum of care, from prevention to collaborative support, while feeling deeply welcoming, like coming home.

Iti joined TCY to bring this vision to women’s health—helping build sustainable, evidence-driven systems that center dignity, belonging, and care.

Based in: Bangalore, India

Advisory Council

Jeffery Carr is a health educator and movement specialist dedicated to building more integrated, patient-centered models of care. Jeff holds a BS in Health Sciences and a Masters in Health Education and Promotion.

Jeff is the owner and manager of The Fitness Company, where he develops fitness and wellness programs for hundreds of clients each week and collaborates closely with orthopedics, physical therapy, and other specialties to optimize care. He is particularly passionate about serving individuals from minority communities—groups that are often underserved and underrepresented in healthcare and teaches courses on health professions and interdisciplinary health systems in the Department of Health Science at the University of Missouri, where he is as an adjunct professor.

Jeff joined TCY Women to co-create an integrated functional health prototype which brings all aspects of health under one “roof”. He is committed to helping TCY develop a liaison- advocate model that helps patients manage expectations, navigate the health ecosystem in a timely manner, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Based in: Columbia, MO

Founder

'The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world.' - Dr. Paul Farmer
These words have guided Kanwal’s work to improve health and care for women and girls, across the world. With 17+ years of experience working in various healthcare roles and spaces, Kanwal brings dedication, creativity, and humility to keep learning and moving forward.

Kanwal founded TCY Women to build more effective, equitable, and accessible tools, resources, and systems of care to support women’s wellbeing comprehensively, and longitudinally. Kanwal completed her B.S. in biology from the University of Missouri, her M.S. in medical anthropology from Boston University, and is working on her PhD in public health at UTHealth in Texas. Kanwal’s rural midwestern roots cultivated her passion to make health education and care accessible for every woman.

Based in: New York

Development Team

Kiki is currently studying forensic medicine at the University of Crete. Kiki’s personal experiences being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and receiving inadequate care and treatment during her diagnostic journey what led her to the work she is currently leading. Her own experiences taught her the value and role of anthropological insights in healthcare.

Kiki joined TCY because she is passionate about advocating for women’s health, ensuring women feel empowered, respected, and well-cared for in medical and clinical settings.

Based in: Crete, Greece

Scientific Vetting Team

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” -Audre Lorde.

Margot completed her B.S. from at Yale and will begin medical school at Emory University: School of Medicine in 2025. Margot joined the TCY team in 2020 when she became the illustrator for TCY’s first project: “Taking Care of You: The Empowered Woman’s Guide to Better Health” (Mayo Clinic Press, 2020). Over the past few years, Margot has worked towards increasing representation of all women through her medical illustrations. Margot is excited to continue leading TCY initiatives to help women get connected to the resources they need, and to get the support they deserve!

Based in: Atlanta, GA

Programming Team

Medhini is currently a second year Master of Public Health student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Previously she completed her B.S in biochemistry and biophysics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in NY.

Medhini joined TCY to help women feel more in control while going through difficult points with their health. When she’s not working with TCY or attending class, Medhini volunteers with Mount Sinai’s Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention program, plays the oboe, and enjoys going to concerts in New York.

Based in: Manhattan, NY

Programming Team

Dr. Niharika Sawant (B.D.S) worked as a dentist in India before transitioning to public health. She is currently a second-year MPH student at UTHealth, specializing in Health Promotion & Education.

Niharika is extremely passionate about improving health outcomes, particularly in the areas of chronic disease prevention as it related to women’s health. She joined TCY to apply her knowledge and skills in order to promote preventive care and health equity.

Based in Austin, TX

Scientific Vetting Team

Sara is a medical student at Weill Cornell Medicine with an M.Phil. in Translational Biomedical Research from the University of Cambridge and a BSc in Physiology from University College London.

Sara is passionate about advancing sexual and reproductive health, femtech innovation, and patient-centered care. Her work spans basic science, clinical research, and advocacy, reflecting a deep commitment to addressing gaps in sexual medicine education and improving care for individuals with pelvic and vulvovaginal pain.

Sara joined TCY to uplift women’s voices and transform how healthcare is understood, taught, and delivered.

Based in: New York, NY

Social Media Team

Sofia is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she earned her B.A. in Anthropology. With a strong background in research, organizational work, community engagement, and fluentcyin English and Spanish, Sofia brings a deep commitment to making information and spaces accessible to diverse communities.

Sofia joined TCY to combine research, and communication with creativity and collaboration. Through her work centers social justice and tangible impact by she sharing health information to help women advocate for themselves and contribute towards building inclusive, people-centered systems of care.

Based in: Minneapolis, MN

Programming Team

Viviana is a medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a MPH candidate at the CUNY. She holds a B.A. in Neuroscience from Smith College, where she developed a strong foundation in research and community outreach.

Viviana is deeply committed to reproductive justice and expanding access to education that is culturally grounded, empowering, and community-driven. Her dream career blends medicine and public health, working at the intersection of clinical care, community education, and policy.

Viviana joined TCY because of its commitment to creating spaces for healing and conversation beyond traditional medical systems—through storytelling, shared lived experience, and community-building.

Based in: Bronx, NY